Cuckoo Flower

Cardamine pratensis
Flowers April-June. Rosettes of pinnate leaves with a flowering stem rising to 20 cm and carrying numerous 4-petaled flowers. Pink flowers stand out on long stems before the grass grows
Soil moisture tolerances
It is found on sites with 10-20 weeks dry soil per year and 10-20 weeks wet soil per year.
Soil fertility tolerances
It is typically found on moderately fertile sites (10-25 mg P/kg) or P index 1-2.
Traditional medicinal use
It has many different names although cuckoo flower is widely accepted, so called due to its flowering coinciding with the arrival of the cuckoo. Other names include ladies smock and may flower. Young leaves taste peppery and can be used in salads. Orange tip butterflies lay their eggs on this plant and their larvae consume its leaves. Said to be sacred to the fairies and bad luck if brought in doors!
Further information

Click here for a link to the online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora with details of the plant ecology, distribution, photos and habitats: https://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=plant/cardamine-pratensis

Link to information from the Natural History Museum: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/uk-species/species/cardamine_pratensis.html