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The flower heads, a composite of numerous individual flowers have inspired many local names such as blue buttons and pincushion. The name ‘Scabious’ refers to,its traditional use to treat skin sores such as scanties and leprosy. Wiltshire is a stronghold for Field Scabious which thrives on chalk and limestone grasslands. You also find it along well lit hedgerows and road verges allowed to set seed before an Autumn cut. Photo 3 shows it blossoming on the C151 verge (close to the Bath Rd turning) since Wiltshire Council changed their cutting regime. It is good to see it growing in the “God’s Acre” wildflower areas in the churchyard (Photo 4) as it is a top pollinator plant, rich in pollen and nectar with a long flowering season - just what our struggling butterflies and bees need. The leaves are food for the narrow bordered hawk moth amongst others and its seeds contain an ant “lunch bag” of starch and fat. Good for the ant and clever seed dispersal for the plant.
Field Scabious is indirectly essential for the survival of the very rare Armed Nomad bees Bug Life Information who only lay eggs in Large Scabious Mining bee nests. Field scabious plants need to be numerous to maintain a population of these mining bees which are also vulnerable to extinction. This lovely blog Large Scabious Mining bee describes the volunteer effort planting thousands of Field Scabious plants in Cornwall to help preserve them
Once widespread Field Scabious has been slowly declining over many decades and was designated “near threatened” in 2014. It is not a species that “travels far” making local populations vulnerable to being wiped out If habitat management changes or herbicides are used.
To quote the wise words of the naturalist Norman W. Moore “It cannot be said too often that it is as much the conservationist’s job to keep common species common as it is to ensure the survival of rare species”