Wellie-stomping

The Marcite is a UNESCO world heritage site, a kind of wild park, the lowest point in the valley, where the water flows down the sides of the mountain and accumulates just below ground level making the "water meadows," and flows together through man-made underground stone channels to start the Nera river, for which the Valnerina is named.

The origin of these meadows marcitoi goes back to the V-VI century. AD, the monks of the Order of St. Benedict who, according to witnesses, dictated the first systems for the construction of the canal network and closed to harness the water and to allow the flooding of meadows.

A place of wild and ancient beauty, wildflowers, birds, trees and all manner of cute critters and interesting remnants from past ages. My favourite place to stomp about in my rubber wellies, collect wildflowers and watch birds.


Its taxonomic name is Prunella Vulgaris, and in English it's called "self-heal" and was used through the Middle Ages as an antiseptic for wounds.



A little while ago, a FB page, the Associazione Pro Marcite di Norcia, said that crayfish were starting to be spotted in the streams in the water meadows, first in many years. And sure enough... I hope I find some live ones. They're mighty tasty.




My favourite wild veg. urtica dioica.



Favourite spot.



The white flowers in the background are wild water cress, another of the many varieties of wild brassica. Quite edible, and very good for you. A bit too strong and peppery for my taste after it flowers. You have to collect it very early in the spring, which around here means early March. 



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