In the hedgerows, and indeed down by the river, at this time of year, there is an abundance of cow parsley. Delicate and lace-like in appearance, cow parsley is a wonderful wild cut flower …..albeit, snip sympathetically for all to enjoy.

A word of warning however. Also growing in the hedgerows is poisonous hemlock, looking very like the seasonal cow parsley, so how do you tell them apart?

Cow parsley, aka wild chervil, and a culinary herb as well as a cut flower, is shorter, slender, almost graceful and a much paler shade of green with a matt finish, delicate and lace like in appearance.

Hemlock is taller, sturdier, more robust, and is a darker shade of green with a pink/pale purple hue.

If you are unsure don’t pick.

Once you have picked your Cow Parsley, simply pop your stems into a vase, following these simple guidelines, tips that can be applied to any cut flower prior to arranging.

• pick early morning, out of the sunshine

• recut stems at an angle

• remove any leaves below the water line

• put in deep water in a cool, dark place for at least six hours, thus allowing your cow parsley to rehydrate

• artistically arrange and enjoy.

What a lovely way to style your home. Free and eco-friendly too, not to mention much admired.

Footnote from Editor. After this story was posted an email was received from a long time elderly resident of the village who remembers the church being beautifully decorated with cow parsley and lilac blossom for a funeral.