Lavender by House Martin

Lavender augusifolia (English Lavender) Native to: the Mediterranean region, from Yugoslavia to Spain and North Africa.

Lavender is from the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Although commonly named English Lavender there is no record of any Lavender in the UK prior to the 13th Century. It may have been brought by the Romans earlier but it is not in common use until it was used by monks in the 15th century for healing. Lavender is hardy up to -15C and enjoys well-drained soil in full sun.

House Martin (Delichon urbica)

Despite House Martins begin common, widespread and universally well known in their breeding range due to their commensal relationship with Humans, they remain, to some extent, birds of mystery. It is still uncertain whether they roost terrestrially or aerially, both in their breeding range (when not in their nests), and in their wintering areas south of the Sahara Desert; also unknown are the locations of the various European populations in these areas.

In their breeding range, House Martin are almost always associated with human habitations, buildings their mud nests under protective overhangs such as the eaves of houses and under bridges; a small proportion, less than 1% of the population, nests on cliffs. They are aerial feeders, feeding on insects at a higher altitude than Swallows but lower than Swifts, and favour agricultural areas.

Despite being one of Europe’s common trans-Sahara migrants, almost nothing is known about the House Martin’s wintering areas in Africa.