Why dandelions rock!

Ignore the haters - dandelions are the best!

They’re good for your garden, helping to improve poor soil, and because they’re one of the first flowers to pop out after the long winter, bees and butterflies love them. More bugs, more birdies - happy days!

Some people think of them as weeds, but dandelions are actually herbs. You can eat every part of a dandelion, and they’re really nutritious - see our other post for a recipe for yummy dandelion honey. They have been used in traditional dishes around the world for thousands of years. Victorian ladies liked to add them to their posh sandwiches!

The dandelion is clever, closing up at nighttime to conserve energy and opening again when the sun comes up. And its method of dispersing seeds is incredibly successful. Unlike other wildflowers, they can be found on footpaths and cracks in city walls as well as in gardens and fields.

And let’s not forget the beauty of that yellow flower, and the magic of the fluffy seed head. Many cultures around the world celebrate the dandelion as a symbol of endurance and healing, transformation and joy.

Gone are the days of the pristine, manicured lawn and perfect borders. More and more people are embracing biodiversity and letting nature do its thing, and the dandelion has an important role to play. No Mow May is a good place to start, or even earlier in the year when the dandelions are in their first flush - read more about the Let Dandelions Bee campaign here.