A Walk Along The Malago

I went exploring the Malago River today with the well named artist, Becky Beinart. This is part of the Bristol urban fringe that I haven’t visited before, and I was agreeably surprised at how well kept some of it is. Becky has been commissioned by the Architecture Centre and Groundwork Southwest as part of their Spring Green programme, exploring the themes of urban green space and green infrastructure. You can find out more here.

The Malago springs out of Dundry slopes and follows a course through South Bristol until it enters the Avon New Cut near Asda in Bedminster. A fair amount of it is underground, with much of the rest following a course through urban parkland, including woodland and recreation areas. There’s quite a lot of fly-tipping in the more built-up areas.  Some people don’t seem to mind chucking their old push chairs, shopping trolleys, car batteries etc. into the stream, and I think the various conservation groups that look after the above ground bits have got their work cut out clearing up after the zombies.

There is already quite a range of useful medicinal plants that can be identified popping here and there. Not much that can be used right now, as its still a bit early, but much that will be of interest later on. There’s a fair patch of black horehound (Ballota nigra) running alongside some playing fields, and a lot of ground ivy up by Manor Woods. Cleavers, nettles, chickweed, shepherd’s purse, blackberries, elders, are all abundant at various points along the way.

The chickweed is in flower, and can be used from now until November, although it tends to go a bit fibrous later on in the Summer.

Chickweed contains saponins, so when you pick it and rub it in your hand you can feel its smooth and soapy texture. Its main use is in external applications, to treat hot and itchy skin conditions, such as certain types of eczema. It is particularly good for treating childhood eczema, giving immediate relief from itching, and can be effective in treating cradle cap in infants too. You can simply squish it up inyour hands and rub it on the affected parts. It extracts well in water, and you can also make a very nice cider vinegar with it. For a water extract simply put some in a blender, cover with water, and bend.  Do the same with organic cider vinegar to make the vinegar. In both case strain it well. You can bottle the vinegar and it will keep for several months. With the water extract you need to use it within a week unless you can find some way of preserving it.

To make chickweed and calendula cream make a strong water extract of chickweed, and place it in a container in a hot water bath. In another container, in the same hot water bath, pour an equal amount of calendula infused oil. Once both the chickweed water and the calendula oil are suitably hot, dissolve a small lump of beeswax in the oil, and half a teaspoon of borax in the chickweed water. When these are both completely dissolved, slowly pour the water fraction into the oil fraction, stirring or whisking all the time. Pour the resulting mix straight into sterilised jars and pop the lid on. It will solidify reasonably quickly and there you have it. Label it and keep it in the fridge. It should be good for a couple of months or so. You can put a few drops of lavender essential oil, or, even better, chamomile essential oil (if you can get it) into the bottom of the jar prior to pouring in the mixture. This will help to preserve it and give it a bit extra anti-inflammatory effect.

For general itching or more widespread eczema, you can add half a cup of the chickweed cider vinegar to a hot bath. Worth a try as I’m told it can be very soothing. You can also use the vinegar in salad dressings to treat internal inflammatory problems, such as gastritis and colitis.