Mention nettles to most people and they recoil, “nasty, stingy things”, “invasive weeds”, “picnic spoilers”, I’ve heard them called many things!
All of them are true in their own way, but the positives of this plant, totally outweigh the negatives. In Forest School, we have been learning all about nettles, how to identify them, what to do if stung, and a variety of different uses of this unappreciated plant.
Nettles have been used by generations of people for all sorts of things; in bushcraft they can be used to make nettle rope/cordage, in cooking they make an excellent spinach substitute and can be used in the making of pesto, cheese and soups, and in the brewing industry; wine and beer.
Nettle cloth is being hailed as the fabric of the future, being both ecologically friendly and sustainable, but I don’t think this is a new thing, as I vaguely recall being taught that Vikings made their vests from nettles. In fact during WW2, children were sent to gather nettles that were then boiled in water to dye fabric to produce camouflage material. Samuel Pepys’ diary records him having eaten “nettle porridge,which was very good”.
The importance of the nettle in nature’s ecosystem was also discussed. Butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves, which then provide the newly hatched caterpillars with their first nutritious meal. Aphids are attracted to the hairy nettle stems, which then feed the ladybirds. And finally, if there’s anything left of the plant, the drooping catkins turn to seed to feed the birds.
We finished our lessons with a greater appreciation of the humble nettle and by tasting some freshly brewed nettle tea. Most of the children were prepared to try it, some really liked it whilst others thought it “disgusting!”
Mrs Wilson
