Figure of the Week: 10

It’s national Be Nice to Nettles Week (19 - 30 May) so here are 10 reasons why nettles are worth nurturing:

1. Nettles are butterfly food for common British species. Without these ruthlessly
efficient plant pollinators all sorts of crops would suffer and that in turn could affect the human food chain.
2. They're medicinal.
3. The sting on the underside of the nettle leaf is designed to protect it.
4. Dock leaves are commonly believed to soothe the symptoms of a nettle sting, and they often grow close by.
5. The fibre inside the plants can be spun into string and used to make fabric for clothing, cushion covers, and even paper.
6. The German army used nettle fabric to make army uniforms during World War I.
7. It's low-maintenance. They will flourish wherever the soil is rich in phosphate.
8. The plants are packed with magnesium, iron and calcium - all essential minerals for healthy humans.
9. They're tasty too, although nettle nutrition is a dish best served hot.
10. Nettle wine is a traditional country wine that's enjoying a bit of a resurgence.

Find out more:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8692782.stm
http://www.nettles.org.uk/