Wildflowers and meadows

Wildflowers are flowers that naturally live in our country and have not been changed by people in any way. They can grow in different types of habitats like a garden, park or field. They can also grow in hedgerows, out of walls, at the seaside, up mountains, in woodlands and in meadows. 

Meadows are grassy areas and fields left to grow for a while and can be fantastic places for wildflowers to live. They provide food and drink for many insects, who then provide food for birds and mammals. 60 to 80% of wildflowers around the world depend on insects and animals because they pollinate them and help them produce the next generation of wildflowers.

Wildflowers usually have two names - a scientific one and a common one. The scientific name tends to stay the same but the common one might be a little different depending on where it is found in the country or who is naming it. Sometimes we use different names to mean the same thing and some can be funny. The dandelion, for example, has been called lion's-tooth, blowball and faceclock! 

Another amazing thing about wildflower names is the clues they can give us about how they were used by our ancestors in the past, where they grow or even how they can help to make us better when we are sick. Plus, many of them have stories to tell. Be sure to check out the story of the white dead-nettle and why the centipede kept losing his shoes!