Brambles and Stinging Nettles are taking over the Countryside
A recent survey costing ten million pounds has revealed that our countryside is overrun by Brambles and Stinging Nettles along with a few other invasive species.
I am sure most of us that regularly spend time in the countryside are quite aware of this without such a vast amount of money being spent on the conclusion.
Brambles, commonly the Blackberry (Raspberries are also brambles although less troublesome in the wild) send out their runners at such speed they appear to have spread at least twelve inches overnight, if not more, rooting themselves where they touch down creating what I describe as nature’s trip wire. Many a time I have walked the same path and been caught by the laying of a new trap across the path, buried just below the grass just low enough to catch the tip of my foot.
Stinging Nettles don’t spread as quickly and given that their runners spread underground, have a tendency to pop up randomly anywhere they can. Try pulling up a nettle from the base and follow the trail of roots, I would advise wearing gloves!
Landowners need to get a grip on these species. With the modern machinery available it would not take too long to keep the invaders in control. I am not suggesting total destruction, Stinging Nettles are a valuable plant for wildlife, the Red Admiral butterfly for example favours Nettles. Many of us look forward to the early autumn fruits of the blackberry, gathering them to make a wide variety of preserves and desserts. Birds and small mammals also enjoy the fruits at this time of year.
Rather than waste millions on a survey to tell us what we already know, why not put the money to a more practical use and invest in some tools to keep the problem in check and pay some of the many unemployed to do the job.