Plants in the St Godwald’s Retreat garden

“This variety is an early flowering perennial so is a great food source for pollinators early in the year. Pulmonaria was used as an ancient medicine for the treatment of lung infections.”

Delicate, pure-white, funnel-shaped flowers in early spring and white-spotted, bright-green leaves. This dainty pulmonaria is perfect for shady areas. One of the first to flower, it looks lovely alongside miniature daffodils.

“A sweet-scented herb that lifts your senses. Thyme oil has been used in medicine and cosmetics for centuries, with antibacterial properties.”

The aromatic mid-green leaves of this bushy thyme release a lovely lemon scent whenever they are rubbed, while also producing a colourful display of lilac flowers in summer.

“A delicate flower that creates clouds of white in the wildflower meadow, important in folklore to bring good luck to the home.”

Billowing umbels of tiny, white flowers top finely divided foliage from mid spring to early summer, creating a charming, ethereal quality. A short-lived perennial or biennial, cow parsley is ideal for naturalised planting schemes or meadows where it can be allowed to set seed freely.

“The symbol of Primrose Hospice, a bright and cheery welcome after long winters.”

Our native primrose is held in deep affection, partly because it's one of the first spring flowers. From early March to May clusters of pale lemon, often fragrant flowers with centres the colour of egg yolk, appear among rosettes of large, deeply-veined, bright-green leaves. Primroses look especially lovely in a woodland garden or along a shady bank, and are suitable for most shady garden sites.

“The hardworking rowan tree is brilliant for wildlife, providing habitats and a food-source for many species. The rowan features throughout English folklore, one use being to drive cattle onto pasture for the first time to ensure fertility and good health.”

Rounded tree with mid- to rich green leaves that turn deep red and yellow in autumn, especially after cool summers. Sprays of tiny white flowers cover the tree in late spring, followed by bunches of red berries in autumn.