This week we are flying the flag for Selfheal - bumblebee magnet, and provider of food and healing since ancient times. What more could you ask from a plant! Take time to have a close look, preferably with an eye lens, to appreciate the beauty of its purple/violet flowers. The variable height of Selfheal can be confusing, it can grow to 20, even 30cms, but most of the time it lurks in unsprayed managed areas as a scarcely noticed purple blob. Plantlife uk’s Lawn Management Guidelines (see link, well worth a read) advocate a mixture of long and short areas to best support our wildlife. Selfheal is one of the heroes of short area lawns mowed about once a month, depending on weather, on a 2.5-5cm height cut. It will bounce back after its haircut to continue providing nectar. Look for it in the mowed area behind the first churchyard wildflower patch (it is in there too), and also at the Recreation Ground. The name Prunella was a misspelling derived from the German word for diptheria, vulgaris just means common. Folk names include carpenter’s herb, perhaps in recognition of wound healing use by clumsy carpenters! The name heal-all is a good description for a plant with antibacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant and wound healing properties - to name but a few. A member of the mint family, all parts are edible