Claire Thompson Keeper of The Ways

Claire Thompson Keeper of The Ways Answering the call, wandering into the Wild, around us & within. Sharing old wisdoms & teachings

Gotta love these beauts! Not too too many round Inishowen (compared with further down the country) but there’s enough we...
15/06/2026

Gotta love these beauts! Not too too many round Inishowen (compared with further down the country) but there’s enough wee nuggets to gather a few and make some lovely cordial. The Elder Mother with a relationship between the Earth and the Air.. a boundary protector. The flower is light air and warmth of sunny summer days. Helps you sweat out those colds n fevers (cooling on the body therefore) and encourages a letting go, airing out your body. Not just for people tho remember- bees, beetles, wasps, sooo many flies all love it cos it’s swimming with pollen and nectar. Pick on a dry sunny day tho or it’ll smell of cats p**s. (Leaves, branches a bit poisonous so just use the flowers folks!)

Our garden is a wild place- there’s a small (barely) cultivated patch for veg grown haphazardly and then large areas lef...
14/06/2026

Our garden is a wild place- there’s a small (barely) cultivated patch for veg grown haphazardly and then large areas left for pollinators and wild flowers. There’s Docks (we’re waiting for the beetles to arrive), Foxgloves, Buttercups, Vetches, soooo much Plantain (lanceolate) Meadowsweet, cuckoo flower, Brambles, and with the Ragwort along comes these fine beauties- Cinnabar moths. I’m out there today wandering around barefoot (necessary for heart health) in the long grass- bliss

What a beaut! White Ermine that’s not actually an ermine moth but a Tiger moth! Substantial declines means it’s now a pr...
03/06/2026

What a beaut! White Ermine that’s not actually an ermine moth but a Tiger moth! Substantial declines means it’s now a priority species for NI- habitat loss and pesticide use- seriously guys. Stop it already- look at this creature of gorgeousness. Not that it makes a tasty bird snack mind you! Defensive chems makes birds go ewwwww. Do you know what this moth likes? - pesticide free diverse swards- larvae feeds on lots of the same plants as we do!- nettles, dandelions, plantains, clovers etc. They’re marvellous night pollinators moving pollen when bees are inactive. Love honeysuckle? Thank the moths. ❤️❤️

Always utterly captivated and enthralled by this stunner- Scarlet Pimpernell - what a relationship between the earth and...
30/05/2026

Always utterly captivated and enthralled by this stunner- Scarlet Pimpernell - what a relationship between the earth and sun ❤️ It nestles in close to the ground and opens with intense colour in the strong light of full sun, closes immediately when it dims or dulls. Poor man’s barometer. Used to be everywhere- remember that? Dramatic declines due to changes in farming practise - herbicides, fertiliser etc and seen as an arable ‘weed’ W**d is a true 4 letter word- NO SUCH THING- look at its beauty.. just love love love it ❤️❤️

look at this great beauty- Creeping Willow Vital for stabilising our sand dunes preventing erosion. Provides great she...
29/05/2026

look at this great beauty- Creeping Willow Vital for stabilising our sand dunes preventing erosion. Provides great shelter for ground nesting birdies as well as wee mammals amd inverts. Bumbies, solitary bees and hover flies love the catkins! And.. it soo pretty! ❤️

.. gorgeous. Going going gone
26/05/2026

.. gorgeous. Going going gone

One of my absolute favourites and a plant I’ve worked alongside for many many years.. such a harmoniser and mediator for...
24/05/2026

One of my absolute favourites and a plant I’ve worked alongside for many many years.. such a harmoniser and mediator for skin. Anthyllis vulneraria - wound healer. Vital for the small blue butterfly- delighted to see it ❤️❤️

Brewing up more soil health microbes today!
23/05/2026

Brewing up more soil health microbes today!

So many people are using apps to try work out what something is, the information is not embodied learning and often inco...
22/05/2026

So many people are using apps to try work out what something is, the information is not embodied learning and often incorrect. Identifying plants is a skill which takes many many years. AI is not smarter and should never replace people who have put the actual hours in.
It can sometimes be useful as a starting point but that is just it.. and only it. There is a method to keying out plants in a way that you learn it. I’ve seen people reach for the app to look up the same plants over and over again.

Also don’t eat anything just because the internet says it’s ok!!!

And why are soooo many herbalists using AI to create content, giving randomer internet gathered half information which at times is misleading and downright inaccurate?!

Some of the most wonderful humans we have spent our week with. Forever grateful for your encouragement, support and enth...
19/05/2026

Some of the most wonderful humans we have spent our week with. Forever grateful for your encouragement, support and enthusiasm. Love you guys so much. ❤️

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