Ramsons, Allium ursinum (also known as buckrams, wild garlic, wood garlic or bear's garlic) is a wild relative of chives in the Alliaceae (onion/garlic) family. They tend to grow mainly in swampy deciduous woodlands, being most common in areas with slightly acidic soils. They flower before the trees get their leaves and fill the air with their characteristic strong garlicky scent. Ramsons grow in marshy ground usually within woodlands. They're very common across Britain and if you come across a drift of them you will be aware of their presence long before you see them as they emit a strong garlic-like smell (hence the source of one common name: wild garlic). Ransom season is very short, however, and soon after it flowers the plant seeds itself and dies back. The entire plant is edible and the bulb can be used as a garlic substitute (if you can get seed and you have a shady spot in your garden this is an excellent plant to grow). However, the plan't true glory is it's leaves which can be used raw in a salad. They are also excellent when finely shredded and mixed into an omelette. They can also be boiled and made into a kind of pesto-like pâté.