Tufted vetch is my favourite of the various vetches. Just look at those gorgeous one sided clusters of blue/purple flowers and tendrils allowing it to clamber onto other plants. These photos were taken in Frank’s Wood where it is thriving, but look out for it in verges as well.
Like other members of the Pea family, the plant has root nodules which contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria making it useful as a soil enhancer and fodder plant.
The classic pea structure of the flower attracts bumblebees and other long-tongued insects who can access the nectar and pollinate in return. It is an important food plant for the wood white butterfly (which oddly doesn’t seem to use bush vetch or common vetch). This lovely butterfly is sadly in decline due to changing woodland management with much reduced coppicing. Wood White butterfly, North Wiltshire wildlife blog