Langham in Rutland
Flora
Of trees and shrubs over thirty-five were found to occur
including most of the well-known species. The most common
large tree was the ash with many fine specimens, but only a
few oak and beech, and outstanding horse chestnuts. Many of
the hedgerows are composed of hawthorn, but a great variety
of shrubs can be seen in the older hedgerows, some of which
are estimated to be at least 400 years old.
Although the surveys identified the occurrence of 185 species
of flowering plants, many are only in small numbers and do
not occur annually. In the spring the verges are prolific with
cow parsley and red campion, white dead-nettle and lady’s
smock are also quite common. Early in the year the hedges are
white with blackthorn flowers, and later, wild roses, dogwood
and the wayfaring-tree are in flower adding to the colours.
Other plants of interest included bugle, dog’s mercury,
meadowsweet, sneezewort, fox-and-cubs, wild angelica, black
medic, marsh marigold, woolly thistle and wood anemone.