Blaze

Seeing rosebay willowherb in bright low sunlight it's easy to see how it got its name of fireweed. The common flower is a very early coloniser of burnt sites and became noted in London's bombsites after the blitz of WW2. It's also called fireweed in America where it is quick to appear after forest fires.

But the official name here serves to remind us that it's just one member of the willowherb family, probably the most successful though smaller members are not so conspicuous.

Rosebay is instantly recognisable with its flowers on spikes each one having larger petals at the top and the leaves arranged spirally.

Also along the track is a small patch of broadleaved willowherb, equally tall, but less extrovert,  more gentle.