The loss of local knowledge - be it about plants or anything else - is one of the side-effects of globalisation and rapidly changing societies. While this issue is recognised in the tropics, and is receiving a lot of attention from those concerned with development and the conservation of cultural and biological diversity, it is not the case here at home. The UK has long been industrialised and ranks among the most developed of regions. Yet studies have shown that fragments of knowledge passed down through a long oral tradition still exist among older people. Its value increases the more it is lost as time passes.

Results so far From survey cards distributed since summer 2003 we have had a fantastic response and gathered much valuable information. The top 20 plants recorded are:
Plant	Main use
Rumex – dock (377 records) more info.... Allium cepa – onion (187 records) more info.... Urtica dioica – nettle (147 records) more info.... Symphytum officinale – comfrey (126 records) Sambucus nigra – elder (123 records) Taraxacum officinale – dandelion (116 records) Tanacetum parthenium - Feverfew (78 records) Brassica oleracea – cabbage (71 records) Chamaemelum nobile (65 records) Citrus limon – lemon (59 records) Allium sativum – garlic (57 records) Lavandula x intermedia – lavender (57 records) Salvia officinalis – sage (56 records) Aloe vera – aloe (48 records) Solanum tuberosum - potato (47 records) Zingiber officinale - Ginger (37 records) Rubus idaeus - Raspberry (37 records) Sempervivum tectorum - Houseleek (31 records) Vicia faba - Broad Bean (27 records) Petroselinum crispum - Parsley (26 records)	Stinging nettle Antibacterial Tonic; Rheumatism bruising; bones Coughs and colds Warts Migraine Mastitis Sleep Coughs and Colds Antibacterial Insommnia      Sore throats Skin ailments Burns;Warts Stomach problems Childbirth Burns; Sore eyes Warts Breath freshener

150 years ago Britain was still mainly a rural society. Lives and activities were defined by the seasons and everyone knew the names and uses of several common wayside plants. Within two generations of the industrial revolution most of the population had moved into cities. As people developed an urban lifestyle they lost contact with the land and their practical herbal traditions. Not just forgotten but no longer accessible - where was the nearest dandelion, dock, healing tree or stream for watercress?

Many different disciplines need to work together to conserve this herbal information and the need for an organization to collect, collate and research the remaining herbal traditions has been felt for many years. Finally, in 1999, as a matter of urgency, Ethnomedica was formally established. It has a clear Policy Statement, a Council of Management, comprising herbalists, ethnobotanists and oral historians, unlimited enthusiasm, limited funding and this Web Site

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Thank you