We have two native species of nettle in the British Isles, the common nettle Urtica dioica L. (Figure 1) which has two (some authorities list more) subspecies: ssp. dioica the widespread and often very abundant stinging nettle with which we are all familiar and ssp.
Who introduced nettles to the UK?
Roman soldiers
A couple of weeks ago, BBC Radio 4s Gardeners’ Question Time mentioned that Roman soldiers introduced Roman nettle to Britain. They used it to keep themselves warm by beating themselves with the stinging plants.
When did nettles arrive in UK?
Consequently, minute grains of stinging nettle pollen are commonly found in the air in late summer. The first formal UK stinging nettle record was in 1562 but since the species is so common it is difficult to determine its detailed distribution before the advent of systematic species recording in the twentieth century.
Did the Romans introduce nettles to the UK?
The Romans even brought animals, like rabbits to Britain. And stinging nettles too! The Romans also built temples to worship their many gods – like Mars, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus.
Are Stinging nettles native?
Native Distribution: Throughout much of North America, except Arctic. Native Habitat: Waste places, roadsides.
Why did the Romans bring nettles to Britain?
They helped the Romans keep warm!
The nettle’s sting is a ‘counterirritant’: this means its chemicals can actually decrease an existing pain. Roman soldiers allegedly used this effect to adapt to the colder, harsher climate of Britain – rubbing nettles on their arms and legs to help them keep warm.
What purpose do nettles have?
General Uses. Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH).
Why are there so many stinging nettles in the UK?
This is one reason you find them everywhere: they were very useful plants. No one needs to plant them any more, because they are rather good at planting themselves. They do this in two ways. First, they like to spread, particularly if the ground is moist and rich in nutrients.
Are nettles good for wildlife?
Stinging nettles are great wildlife attractors: caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies use them as foodplants; ladybirds feast on the aphids that shelter among them; and seed-eating birds enjoy their autumn spoils.
Do bees like stinging nettles?
This weed is particularly useful to them as that pollen may be in short supply if there are few flowering trees in your area. It’s certainly one of the few herbaceaous plants flowering vigorously and attracting bees at this time.
What did Britons eat before the Romans?
Before the Romans arrived the Britons cultivated cereals (mostly wheat and barley), and peas and beans, generally on a subsistence basis.
What did Roman soldiers eat in Britain?
The daily allotment to a soldier in the field was often a pound of bacon. This ration could be complemented by whatever livestock was nearby and available — cattle, swine, sheep or deer. In leaner environments, like Corbridge in present-day Britain, the soldiers were content with rabbits, moles. foxes and ducks.
Can you drink stinging nettle tea everyday?
It is a powerful blood purifier that drives out toxins from the body, making it the perfect addition to your daily routine to stay healthy. The herb has antibacterial, antifungal, astringent, and anti-inflammation properties. What’s more, it is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and K, along with containing carotene and iron.
Are nettles invasive?
Although Urtica dioica is distributed widely in many parts of the world, it is considered invasive because of its nuisance value even within its native range, particularly in waste places, especially since its stinging hairs can cause painful welts on human and possibly animal skin.
Where are nettles native?
Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa, it is now found worldwide, including New Zealand and North America.
What happens if you touch stinging nettle?
Nettles are plants with sharp hairs on their leaves. If you touch them, these hairs inject irritants into the skin, making it itchy, red and swollen.
Did the Romans leave DNA in Britain?
But while the Romans, Vikings and Normans ruled Britain for many years, none left their genetic calling cards behind in the DNA of today’s mainland Caucasian population.
What did the Romans leave behind in Britain?
From military structures such as forts and walls (including the spectacular Hadrian’s Wall) to engineering feats such as baths and aqueducts, the most obvious impact of the Romans that can still be seen today is their buildings. Most buildings in Iron Age Britain were made of timber and were often round in form.
What did our ancestors do with nettles?
Nettle’s high vitamin C content made it a valuable spring tonic for our ancestors after a winter of living on grain and salted meat, with hardly any green vegetables. Nettle soup and porridge were popular spring tonic purifiers, but a pasta or pesto from the leaves is a worthily nutritious modern alternative.
Is being stung by nettles good for you?
And while its sting may be uncomfortable, it actually has a beneficial effect on inflammation in the body. By preventing the body from making inflammatory prostaglandins, the sting results in an overall less inflammatory reaction in the body.
Should you remove nettles?
You can dig up the plants at any time of the year. However, it is important that you prevent the stinging nettles, especially those that are annual, seeding by cutting down the plants in mid-summer or even earlier.