Lesser Burdock

You're seeing Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus) frequently at the moment in the hedgerows, sunken lanes and woodland fringes of the Chase. Their pinky purple flowers remind me of thistles. A valuable resource plant all parts are used for something and has both medicinal and culinary uses: Medicinally Burdock acts against bacteria and inflammation, is used to treat skin conditions, slows blood clotting, lowers blood sugars, reduces fluid retention, helps digestive disorders and that just scratches the surface.  The leaves are eaten raw or boiled as a vegetable through spring and early summer, whereas the root is collected in autumn and best peeled, julienned and boiled or stir fried. A valuable wild food resource, easy to identify and containing plenty of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, E and potassium. Now, have you ever tried to dig up a Burdock root? It's a proper bugger. The roots can be deep and well anchored, and in my experience found all too often in hard to dig soils.  A sturdy chisel ended pointy digging stick, metal tipped digging stick or spade are essential. I remember the first time we tried to collect roots, years ago over on the Purbeck coast, we tried just using sticks we found lying about and the whole exercise was arduous and lengthy.  Still, we learnt a lesson and I'm sure they tasted even nicer for the hard work employed in their retreaval.