A Year in the Valley

There is a Soft Rush and a Hard Rush. The Soft Rush, which we have nicknamed the ‘Spikey Plant’ is actually supposed to be more flexible than the Hard Rush. The main reason I’ve identified the Spikey Plant as a Soft Rush is the flowers, which are out now, are clustered in loose bunches of pinky-brown ears on soft green stems. The Soft Rush grows in a variety of habitats, including damp woodland, ditches, marshes and meadows. The pith used to be soaked in fat and used to make wicks in rush lamps.