Plant Lore Walks: The Traditional Uses and Folklore of Native Plants
30 May 2026 at 11:30 and 14:30
Will picking dandelions make you wet the bed? Why shouldn’t you pick blackberries after September? Should we be scared of Cow Parsley? And why did people put foxglove leaves in children’s shoes?
These are just some of the things you can learn on Roy’ Vickery’s fascinating website about Plant Lore. A former Botanist at the Natural History Museum, Roy has collected, and written about, plant folklore for over four decades, having produced some 150 publications on plant-lore and related topics
On Saturday 30 May Museum visitors can join Roy for a walk around the Museum site, exploring the native plants, their traditional uses and folklore.
Meet Roy Vickery
Roy Vickery was born in March 1947 in rural west Dorset. From 1965 to 2007 he worked as a botanist at the Natural History Museum, London. He remains a Scientific Associate at the Museum, where he mainly helps with the curation of its lichen collections. He also volunteers in the Cambridge University herbarium, trying to identify 19th century collections from South America.
He served on the Committee of the Folklore Society from 1976-90, serving as the Society’s Honorary Secretary from 1980-87, and served on the Society for Folk Life Studies Council from 1999-2003, and from 2024-the present.
Event Information
The Plant Lore walks are included in General Admission to the Museum on Saturday 30 May
Walks will commence at 11:30 & 14:30
Meet on the village green
General Museum Information
With 45 acres at your disposal, there is plenty to explore, including woodlands and an exciting adventure playground
Dogs on short leads are welcome but must not go inside residential buildings
Light lunches, drinks, cakes and snacks are available to purchase from our Skippings Barn
Sensory backpacks are available to borrow (subject to availability)
Mobility scooters are available to borrow (subject to availability - pre-booking is advised)
Lots of free parking
Photography and filming may take place during this event for the Museum archives and publicity. These photographs and video footage may appear in promotional or educational materials including on our websites, social media pages, newsletters, or in newspapers and magazines. If you do not wish to be photographed, please speak to the photographer.