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The wildwood is gone -the primeval forest that covered much of this island- but some species of the forest floor remain. In a damp tree-lined dell near Hitchin there are thousands of Ramsons aka Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum). This colony would have flourished under the canopy of the wildwood. And persisted as our ancient ancestors created a landscape of woodlands and clearings. The dell is now surrounded by large arable fields where no Ramson could grow. Nonetheless the pungent smell of garlic fills the air of the dell as it would have done in the wildwood.