Motts Mill woods are full of these delicate little flowers at the moment. They are wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa) otherwise known as the wind flower as it was believed that the Greek Wind God Anemos sent them in early Spring to herald his arrival. This is a member of the buttercup family and a real opportunist – popping up before the trees are in leaf to take advantage of the sunshine that reaches the woodland floor in March and April. In fact, they only bother to unfurl their petals when the sun is shining. They are an indicator that these woods are ancient, dating back at least 400 years and so, unsurprisingly they have accumulated folklore around them. Apparently, it’s the fairies that close the petals in rain in order to shelter inside them! Beware when checking for those fairies though as wood anemones are poisonous to humans and animals. Not for nothing do the Chinese call them the flower of death.
'Wood Anemone' by John Clare (1793-1864) The wood anemone through dead oak leaves And in the thickest woods now blooms anew, And where the green briar and the bramble weaves Thick clumps o'green, anemones thicker grew, And weeping flowers in thousands pearled in dew People the woods and brakes, hid hollows there, White, yellow and purple-hued the wide wood through. What pretty drooping weeping flowers they are: The clipt-frilled leaves, the slender stalk they bear On which the drooping flower hangs weeping dew, How beautiful through April time and May The woods look, filled with wild anemone; And every little spinney now looks gay With flowers mid brushwood and the huge oak tree.
Wild Groombridge 