Arrgh!!! Our butterfly bank has a huge mass of nettles growing on it!!

I really don’t want to be doing the mass pulling-up of the prickly things, like last time. As much as we cover our hands and arms, we get stung badly.

The tree-hugging nettle-lovers tell us that they are great for nettle tea, or nettle jam, or even nettles in a salad!!

In an effort to get me to be a little less nettle-hating, the next thing they’ll do is make beer from the rash-inducing little blighters…

Incredibly, they already have! And they have stuck a picture of a cheeky little badger on the front to make me go “aaah”!! This is underhandedness of the highest order. It will probably take a case, or four, to sway me.

Of course, I am not that much of a blithering idiot to not know that certain butterflies rely on the nettles for egg-laying, and then their caterpillars somehow happily munch through the things without getting stung in the slightest.

Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell all rely on the humble plant to survive.

The first lesson that we were taught, whilst breaking our backs on the path was, “don’t fight nature”. It’s such an utter waste of time and effort, because the minute you turn your back, nature kicks you in the backside. Balance, is the way forwards, so I will embrace the nettles whilst trying to find something that will give them a good old run for their money, and give us a bit of colour.

Anyway, back to the tasks in hand…

We did a bit of work on the new temporary path that connects with Cawston Bridleway. It’s now a lot more airy and slightly wider. Nothing makes people feel more anxious and uneasy, than a narrow and overgrown path where you cannot see where you’re going.

We also litter-picked and tried to snip back bramble runners, before breaking off for a cup of pick-me-up juice in our all-terrain mugs.

This is our new bench, kindly donated by the Heart of England Co-Op Helping Hearts Awards Scheme, who we are eternally grateful to, for their ongoing support and generosity (blog post to follow for the installation).

A couple of new butterflies spotted for this year.

I have updated iRecord to keep the wildlife flora and fauna boffins happy.

Charlie’s DofE wildflower clearing is slowly becoming established. It’s just a bit of a waiting game, but it will get there. If you look at how rich the older wildflower glades are, I kid you not, when I tell you that they all started off looking a bit bare. Keep the faith, Charlie. It will happen.

Well that’s about it for this week.

Pop along and say hello if you’re out and about.

Until next time!