Huck magazine

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While forgetting to send a card on Mother’s Day might land you in it, you’ll probably be forgiven if National Be Nice to Nettles Week, which starts today, has slipped off your radar. Unpopular for obvious reasons, the humble stinger has a few eco tricks up its sleeve.

Patches of stinging nettles are great for wildlife, supporting many a small ecosystem. Most well known for being a haven for butterflies, nettles are also home for other small insects like aphids – great to snack on if you happen to be a bird.

And it’s because of their sting that nettles are such a popular hang out for these insects. Grazing animals, and frizbee players, tend to think twice before wading into a patch of nettles, so insect larvae sitting on their leaves waiting to hatch, are less likely to be disturbed.

Nettles are also very good for you, full of vitamins and important minerals like iron. In the days of food miles and excess packaging, local food gathered at source can only be a good thing. Plus, seeing people using the nettles should discourage the local parkie from chopping them down. The simplest recipe must be nettle soup.

When harvesting, choose your spot carefully. If you’re an urban dweller, think particularly about where dogs might wee. Pick the young leaves, just the top couple of inches on the stem. These are freshest, and you’ll want to leave nettle cover for the beasties. You’ll need just over half a carrier bag full, but quite squashed down. Wear gloves!

When you get in…

• Wash the nettles carefully and dowse in boiling water to neutralise the sting.
• Fry a couple of onions and some garlic in olive oil.
• Add the drained nettles and let them reduce for five minutes.
• Add a four or five smallish potatoes and an apple, all chopped into small chunks.
• Cover with stock and simmer until the potato is soft.
• Whizz until smooth, and serve with salt, pepper, plain yogurt and a slosh of olive oil.

Serves six. Yum.