Sandra Goodswens illustrated exposition of the uses of trees and plants was extensive, shared at breakneck speed and ranged from the everyday to the magical.

We were reminded of childhood games and sayings that we could identify with - dandelion clocks to tell the time , the yellow throat of buttercup recognition, daisy chains, making noises by blowing through grass, throwing the sticky buds of goose grass, playing with the conkers of horse chestnut trees and even counting cherry stones after eating the pie, to the Tinker Tailor rhyme. But plants as emblems had even more significance such as those worn into battle to show your family or national group, like the Broome of the Plantagenets, or the Tudor rose, the Daffodil, the Shamrock (wood sorrel) and the Thistle, representing the UK.

We learnt too of the magical and medical attributes of some plants such as the oak mistletoe and rowan to the Druids and the value of St John’s Wort to combat depression and comfrey to heal fractures. The competition to make a berry arrangement was won by Margot Sawle.

The AGM is on Thursday, February 13 at the Methodist Schoolroom. To join the WI please telephone Margot Sawle on 01736 762334.