Wild Edge

31/05/2025

A beautiful Dryads Saddle on my way home from the pub…. In PLYMOUTH!

30/05/2025

30/05/2025

Making gifts for the women booked onto my F@ My Menopause Foraging walk tomorrow. A couple@places left if you don’t want to miss out. 10:30-1:30 .

wildedgeuk.com

27/05/2025

27/05/2025

🚜 Looking ahead to the LNP's Farming, Food & Nature Hub at the Royal Cornwall Show! 🚜

We're excited to announce we'll be joined by our sponsors and partners the National Trust 🌳

"We are at the Farming, Food & Nature Hub to showcase some of the regenerative farming going on in the National Trust in Cornwall. From restoring species-rich meadows to creating habitats in woodland edge, we are developing nature-friendly farming on both National Trust and tenant farms.
As part of our strategy, we’ll support the network of farmers we work with across the land to be even bigger players in nature recovery and climate resilience, while producing good, healthy food and running sustainable businesses.”

Photo © Faye Rayson - Staff and volunteers sowing wildflower-rich meadows at Lanhydrock accompanied by traditional Cornish music from Bagas Crowd.

Royal Cornwall Show

25/05/2025

University open day.

23/05/2025

Wild Canapés

23/05/2025

Beautiful edible May

23/05/2025

Planning your wedding this year and looking for activities to inspire you and your guests during your stay? Why not join us for our Foraging Walk and Wild Culinary Adventure as we take you to scenic parts of Rame, as featured in the book and now major motion picture, The Salt Path.

22/05/2025

I’ll be sharing experiences in my garden this year and how to learn along the way! As many of you know, I’m gardening with biodiversity and wildlife in mind! Yet growing food, glorious flowers and helpful herbs too!

So, my first post share is this one!

If you’re growing cucumbers in pots outdoors this year (lots are changing hands in small gardens and allotments at the moment) and you’ve encountered an issue like on the leaf in this photo; then here are some tips!

Possible Causes:

1. Nutrient Deficiency (Likely Potassium)

Yellowing at the leaf edges that turns brown and dry is often a sign of potassium deficiency.
It’s common in cucumbers, especially in pots where nutrients deplete quickly.

2. Water Stress

Irregular watering (too dry, then too wet) can cause edge browning.
Cucumbers need consistent moisture, especially in containers.

3. Leaf Age

This is a lower, older leaf, which naturally yellows and dies off as the plant matures.
If newer growth looks healthy, this may be normal aging.

4. Soil Imbalance or Root Restriction

In a small pot, roots may be getting crowded or not absorbing nutrients well.

Should You Remove It?
Yes, you can remove this leaf.

It won’t recover, and removing it helps redirect the plant’s energy to new growth.
It also improves air circulation, reducing risk of fungal issues.

Next Steps:
Feed with a potassium-rich fertiliser (like tomato feed).
Ensure consistent watering – moist but not soggy.

Check drainage and consider potting into a slightly larger container if needed.
Monitor new leaves – if they’re healthy, you’re back on track!

22/05/2025

Froghopper beetle (more accurately, a froghopper or spittlebug, which belongs to the Cercopidae family) is a small insect, not a true beetle, and looks like this:

Size: Typically 5–12 mm long
Shape: Wedge-shaped or oval, with a stout body
Color: Many are brown, black, or green, often with distinctive markings or mottled patterns; some are brightly colored
Wings: Held tent-like over the back when at rest
Eyes: Large, prominent eyes on the side of the head
Jumping ability: They are among the best jumpers in the insect world, which is how they got the name “froghopper”
Their nymphs are the ones responsible for creating "cuckoo spit" on plants—foamy blobs used for protection as they feed on sap.

Froghoppers (spittlebugs) play several important roles in ecosystems, despite often being overlooked due to their small size:

1. Part of the Food Web
Nymphs and adults are a valuable food source for a wide range of predators, including birds, spiders, parasitic wasps, beetles, and other insects.
Their abundance supports biodiversity, especially in wildflower meadows, hedgerows, and gardens.
2. Indicators of Ecosystem Health
Froghopper populations can signal the health of plant communities and soil quality.
Their presence often correlates with diverse, herbaceous vegetation—suggesting a balanced, functioning habitat.
3. Pollinator Assistants (Indirectly)
While not pollinators themselves, froghoppers feed on plant sap and promote plant growth patterns that can attract true pollinators.
Some species may move pollen passively when crawling on flower parts, though this is rare and incidental.
4. Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling
Their spittle (foam) contains microbes and enzymes that can help decompose plant matter and return nutrients to the soil.
Feeding damage also stimulates plant defenses and regenerative growth, influencing plant health dynamics.
5. Host for Parasitic Insects
Many parasitic wasps rely on froghoppers as hosts for their larvae, contributing to population regulation and supporting complex parasitic food webs.

Should You Remove Them?
In gardens: Only if there's a heavy infestation or plant damage. A gentle spray of water can remove the foam.
Encouraging biodiversity and natural predators (like ladybirds, lacewings, and birds) is usually enough to keep them in balance.