Top Talk with Tanni Grey-Thompson

Top Talk with Tanni

In her usual modest style, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DME asks me to describe her as an ex-athlete, “I seem to spend most of my time in meetings now” she adds a little wistfully. “I love being outdoors and always trained outside in any weather – wearing thermals and a bobble hat in the winter she laughs. The ex paralympian (14 times medal winner- 9 Gold, and holder of over 30 World Records) tells me she is much more into gardening these days. “I used to just hack everything back, she confesses, but we have recently moved house and have got a lovely mature garden so we have decided not to ruin it. If I didn’t like the look of something I just used to pull it up and then find out it was a plant. Ian (Tanni’s husband) won’t let me have a chainsaw so I have to make do with my hedge cutter, which is quite good for hacking actually!”
“I think I get my hacking skills from my Mother, Dad loved ivy and let it grow everywhere and Mum would keep hacking it back. They weren’t great gardeners, I remember Dad climbing up the apple tree to prune it and getting stuck. Mum just said, “I told you so.”

We are planning to grow some veg in the new garden. My first attempt at tomatoes was using grow bags outside the kitchen window. I used to open the window and throw water at them. I fed them too much or at the wrong time and all the flowers fell off. I s’pose I’m a bit of a random gardener really. We recently bought 10 goldfish for our pond and the next day Carys (10 yrs old) came sauntering in and casually said, ‘well, one’s dead already Mum’.”

“But,” she says proudly, “I am compulsive about recycling and get really annoyed about the amount of packaging used. When I buy new shoes I always refuse to take the box. And I love jumble sales and second hand clothes. My family have always been really embarrassed about it but now the clothes are called ‘vintage’ and it’s cool. They got mad with me when I picked up a jumper I liked and they said, ‘you only brought that in last week’! The worst thing is I have to tell everyone about my bargains. I was at a posh do a couple of weeks ago and someone asked where I got my lovely designer dress from – I had to tell them I only paid £2 for it from a Charity Shop. I think it’s a Welsh thing – I just can’t keep it to myself!”

Cool Clothes

One of Tanni’s new ventures has been co-designing a range of clothes for disabled children and adults. The new Tanni&Anni Range at Rackety’s caters for people with special needs, disabilities and wheelchair users, all of whom have busy and exciting lives. “People in wheelchairs used to have to have their coats put on back to front,” explains Tanni, “which is a bit humiliating to be honest.”
Children’s T-shirts have funky messages such as ‘Wicked on Wheels’ and ‘There’s no need to stare, I know I’m cool!’ Check out http://www.tanniandanni.com/ for the full range or call 01538381430


Running for Marie Curie Cancer Care

I first met Tanni at the launch of last year’s BUPA Great Welsh Run. Typically, as she was no longer competing as a professional athlete, she was mischieviously threatening to dress up as a chicken to complete the course. Unfortunately she can’t make this year’s race, tomorrow (27th) but I will be running again, with celebrities from Eastenders, Emmerdale, This Morning and of course, Lynn ‘the Leap’ Davies. We are all proud to be raising money and awareness for Marie Curie Cancer Care and would love to see you there. Join us at Cardiff Bay at 9.30am Sunday 27th to cheer us on our way and pop into http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/ for more information.

Did You Know?

National Parks Week runs from the 28th July until 3rd August, promoting Wales’s Brecon Beacon’s National Park and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, amongst others. You are encouraged to join in the many activities on offer during the week and simply enjoy the beautiful scenery and surroundings.
Children were asked “Who likes shepherd’s pie, Sunday roast and kebabs?”
“We do!” They cried
“Where do they come from?” they were asked
“The shops!” was the reply.
National Parks Week is celebrating the year of Food and Farming and reconnecting people to the landscape that provides their food and local produce. Visit www.nationalparks.gov.uk

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Top Talking with Politicans

Top Talk

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Randerson, describes herself as a ‘self taught gardener’. “My experience has come mainly from taming a wilderness,” she laughs, “it’s a large garden by urban standards, about quarter of an acre, and we’ve had a complete mix, including an orchard, a veg patch, rockery, grass and even a pond. We have recently abandoned the veg to try and reduce the amount of work. Whoever invented elections every May was obviously not a gardener as it’s a crucial time to be sowing seeds in the veg garden. Both my husband and I get totally involved in electioneering so we have no time for the garden then. It’s a wilderness now; it’s heading towards being a wildlife garden but not quite created itself properly yet. We love rare, wild flowers and my husband Peter, who is a Botanist by training, always mows very lovingly around a beautiful little orchid we have growing in the middle of our lawn.”
Jenny is also an avid composter. “None of our household waste goes out in the bin, she says proudly, “it’s all composted and we have a wormery too. In fact when we moved house, the neighbours thought we were mad because we bagged up and moved the compost before moving the furniture!”
How else does she do her bit for the environment? “My weakness is the car,” she admits, “I have recently made a rule that if I have to do a long journey for work then I will use the train when possible. My son refuses to have a car; he lives in London and cycles everywhere, (“I’m no good on a pushbike,” she confides, “my Mum wouldn’t let me have one”). “ He won’t take short haul flights either and when he and his Dad went ski-ing, they went by train. It took longer but they really enjoyed it and saw so much more.”
Jenny returns to talking fondly about her garden. “It’s a tremendous source of peace which is priceless; it’s not immaculate but I love it. We have a summer house, which is called the ‘Summer Palace’ as it took so long to build, and I sit in there with my papers working in the evenings. It’s great thinking space. Gardening is also such good exercise – productive exercise, far more productive than those silly treadmills.” She concludes passionately.

Wonderful Wormeries (and more)

I have sung the praises of Wiggly Wigglers for some time – they are such an amazing company and are also growing at a rate of knots. Suppliers of all things ‘green and beautiful’, their already extensive catalogue now includes delights such as Wildflower Turf, Sprouting Seed Pergolas, unusual veg (including blue potatoes), cement shopping bags (made by a woman’s co-operative in Bangladesh, these cotton lined recycled bags once held 50kgs of cement), and the most beautiful natural flower bouquets. They still supply simple-to-get-going wormeries, insect houses and composters as well as books, DVD’s and expert advice. The catalogue is packed with tips and great ideas and information and is just a fabulous read. Do get a copy http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/ or call 01981500391


From Russia With Love

Having just returned from a whistle-stop tour of Russia and the Eastern bloc, and whilst Hubby was absorbing historical and political facts, I thought I’d share some of the less conventional facts that I remember. In Poland, white asparagus is grown extensively and the crop has to be kept covered with soil (like potatoes) to prevent sunlight turning the spears green. This makes picking the crop quite an art and the last year or two asparagus has been left to rot in the ground due to the skilled harvesters having sought work elsewhere. In Russia, people in the service industry are attending courses to learn how to smile; The Hermitage at St Petersburg has so many exhibits on display that if you wanted to see each one it would take almost 3 years; Helsinki has recently imported foxes to control the rapidly growing rabbit population in the City Centre; Tallinn has only 4 hours of daylight each day during the winter months. Five years ago Moscow was experiencing winter temperatures of around - (minus)28 degrees but last year the lowest temperature recorded in the City was +8 degrees..... and it still didn’t raise a smile!

Cor Slimey!

An entirely new species of slug has been found in Welsh gardens. The white, nocturnal, carnivorous slug has been christened the ‘ghost slug’ or Selenochlamys ysbryda (ysbryd being Welsh for ghost) by scientists at the National Museum of Wales and Cardiff University. Ben Rowson said, “We thumbed through old Russian and German records and found that they’re entirely new. As it is an undescribed species we christened it with a Welsh title which we think is the first time a Welsh word has been used in an animal’s scientific name.”
The ghost slug feeds on earthworms and could, potentially, become a pest though more needs to be discovered about it first.
Did I mention Wiggly Wigglers sell worms?

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TOP TALK ON POLICE VICE

Top Talk
Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Barbara Wilding, first got a taste for gardening during maternity leave, 20 years ago. “I thoroughly enjoyed having time to work in the garden even though I couldn’t do too much as I was heavily pregnant but I promised myself that when I retired I would do more.”
“Having just renovated two barns, I’ve started work on the garden a little earlier than anticipated. It’s been terrific having a brand new garden to develop. I’ve planted bulbs, hedges, a camomile lawn and a wildflower meadow. I get stuck in and get dirty, I love it. It’s so therapeutic, though I do have aches and pains every weekend as a result.”
Where does she get the inspiration from? “Dad always said ‘spend your money on the soil rather than plants’ so I had to do a lot of ground preparation and then did lots of research,” she tells me. “ I visited lots of National Trust Gardens, bought some great books, like the Garden of Highgrove (Prince Charles’ garden)and made lots of notes. I’m having to take my garden in pieces and do a bit at a time. I have always wanted an old fashioned greenhouse so maybe that’ll be next year’s project. I also want to keep the garden quite low maintenance as I want to travel more when I retire.”
No qualms about her carbon footprint then? Barbara snorts indignantly. “I think I have already offset my carbon footprint,” she explains, “I planted 400 trees last year and will be planting a lot more before I retire, so I’ll be able take flights with an easy conscience.”
“In fact,” she continues,” the Force had its Carbon Footprint calculated by the Carbon Trust and we have a programme to follow to reduce it. Obviously we have a huge fleet of vehicles and we can’t double up on people using them so we have to look at vehicles with low emissions and fuel consumption. I actually bought one of the first hybrid cars and it’s certainly created conversations. We need to make sure the fleet, and the Force, are environmentally friendly; I am highly committed and believe that any small improvements that can be made in their working environment will be advantageous in their personal lives too. The Organisation consists of nearly 6,000 people who all have families, so we are reaching between 18,000 and 24,000 people in Wales which is not inconsiderable. And I will not have bottled water any more,” she adds adamantly. “At all of our meetings, we have water from the tap like the old days.”
I’m curious to know how that has change has been received? As direct as ever, Barbara replies, “Well, let’s just say if anyone has a problem with it, I haven’t heard about it.”

Gardening Greats

Barbara also told me she knew that a lot of ‘troubled’ young people were ‘finding themselves through gardening. One school in particular had offered an alternative curriculum to kids from dysfunctional backgrounds and who were in danger of dropping out of school. The first new subject to be oversubscribed was horticulture and the school’s team has gone on to win awards and have built several sensory gardens for the disabled. “They realise there are people less well off then themselves,” explained Barbara, “they also feel appreciated and of course they are tired at the end of the day so less inclined to create trouble. Gardening can be fun and hugely rewarding, for anyone.”

Tread Softly

Visit www.carbontrust.co.uk for a fabulous method of calculating your own carbon footprint. Based on your home, appliances and travel information, it is quick and simple to use . The average Welshman contributes around 8.5 tons per year and my own steel toe-capped footprint worked out at 7 tons.
It has been suggested that biggest carbon footprint ever is that of a football boot. David Beckham’s carbon emissions are estimated at a whopping 165 tons per year. That obviously contributes to him and wife Victoria having the unfortunate title of the ‘Worlds Most Eco-Unfriendly Celebrity Couple’.

Did You Know?

It takes three times as much water to make a plastic bottle than to fill it.
It took over 12 million barrels of oil to make the plastic water bottles used in the UK last year.
Over 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water.

UHG!

A friend was horrified to catch her toddler about to put a slug in his mouth. “Don’t do that” she screamed , “it won’t taste nice.” she added by way of explanation. “Tastes just like worms” her toddler replied casually.

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Talking about the Weather

Top Talk

It was the heat wave of 1976 that first sparked Derek Brockway’s interest in the weather. The BBC Wales weatherman recalls, “I was only 8 but I was reading all the newspapers and drove my parents bonkers by channel hopping to get all the weather reports and information that I could. I was fascinated and went on to do science as A levels – maths being the most important of course. I joined the Met office when I was 19, starting at the bottom. Then I did all the internal Met office courses to become a forecaster. I’m not just a presenter.” He adds quickly.

Derek admits, “It’s always a challenge forecasting the Welsh weather. Being positioned next to the Atlantic, we get plenty of rain and the close continental landmass supplies the SW winds. Geographically, we can get it all.”

Does he ever get blamed for bad weather? “Sometimes. He shrugs, “people like to shoot the messenger. Unfortunately, they only remember the times I’m wrong not the times I’m right. Computers make forecasting more accurate these days. It’s a mix of art and science - with a lot of experience,” he explains.

How accurate are the Old Wives Tales and Folklore? “There are over 3,000 proverbs used in connection with the weather – some are good. Most methods are reactive rather than predictive. Seaweed and pinecones, for example, react to the atmosphere rather than predict the weather.”

Derek is well known for his love of walking but what about gardening? “I went through a fad as a teenager” he confesses. “I did the borders, planted bulbs and spent all Dads money in the Garden Centre buying trees. I remember buying a beautiful Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ (Japanese Cherry). My own garden now is low maintenance because my job keeps me so busy and the weekends are always full. Perhaps I’ll get stuck in again when I retire.”

Does the ‘walking weatherman’ put changes in weather patterns down to global warming? “We don’t get snow like we used to when I was a boy. The last bad snowfall was 1982. Some changes are natural, some are due to Man’s influence. I try to do my bit for the environment, though there’s always room for improvement. I wash my own car now instead of using the carwash and I’m investigating solar energy. A lot of the new solar products use radiation through clouds, you don’t need direct sunlight.”

I have to ask – how much sunshine can we expect this summer? “The trends are for the summers to get hotter and drier with more extremes, more storms. There will always be natural variations but I don’t think this summer will be as bad as last which was the wettest on record . I think it’ll be pretty mixed, a typical Welsh summer; a bit of sun, a bit of rain. Who needs heat waves anyway? They’re no good for anyone or anything. 25 degrees is great.


Flower Power

Flower colours have more effect on our moods and feelings than we perhaps realise. Yellow blooms are associated with sunshine and happiness, orange flowers will increase feelings of vibrancy and energy and reds evoke passion and sensuality. White flowers are very healing and calming whilst blue and purple are thought to be inspiring. Pinks and lilacs are associated with romance and nostalgia and creams and greens (foliage) with nurturing and compassion. What do your floral displays say about you?


Forecasting Fun

Why not have a go at predicting the weather yourself? There are a wide range of home weather stations, instruments and barometers available for the ‘want-to-be-weatherman’ (or woman). From simple rain gauges to technical data loggers and suitable for the enthusiast or educational purposes find out more at www.ukweathershop.co.uk or call 08456800868

www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

From Coast to Coast Lynne talks to Brychan

Top Talk

Freelance entity and horseman (and newly married) Brychan Jones is busy organising a 240 mile sponsored ride from the coast of north Wales to the coast of South Wales, which will start on the 25th August. The presenter of Ar Garlam (At a Gallop), currently showing on S4C, explains why. “We have set up a new Charity to raise money and awareness of pancreatic cancer. Good friend and fellow rider, Shan Cothi lost her husband, Justin, to the disease recently and we wanted to do something in his memory and to help others. Can you believe there has been no progress or developments in treating this type of cancer? The same number of people die from it now as did in the 1950’s and earlier. We are heading the Charity because we want the money to stay in Wales and to know how it is being used. You can see more at www.amswerjustintime.co.uk”

There is no doubt that plain speaking Brychan is very much an outdoor man. “I’m a farmer’s son and am in tune with nature,” he agrees. “I had a proper job for 5 years and hated my time being owned by someone else and being in an office. I’m a horseman, a countryman I love hunting (legally) and a big fan of point to pointing. I would like to see the Hunt’s promote it more – it’s a great sport that more people should be enjoying. The first time I jumped a fence was two weeks before my first race and I came 2nd” he laughs. “That was the second best day of my life he confides, marrying Sian was the best. We both rode to the Church, it was fabulous.”
“You get to see so much more of the countryside from horseback. We are blessed to have such a beautiful country and to be able to enjoy it thanks to the kindness or farmers and landowners.”

“I feel sad for City people who don’t realise the beauty of the countryside. I have Tipi’s on the farm in West Wales and people come to stay from London. They see real stars for the first time and hear the silence. Some of the kids have never even seen sheep. It’s tremendous to see the youngsters interacting with animals for the first time, it makes them realise life isn’t all about human beings, animals have needs and rights too. It’s emancipating.”

Back to Nature

Brychan’s Tipi’s are based in the beautiful countryside of Cardigan and are certainly an excellent way to get in tune with Nature. Where else could you lie in bed listening to the crackle of the open indoor campfire whilst watching the stars twinkle overhead? Cooking is easily done on the open fire and bbq’s are also available. The site is secure and overlooks Aber-porth with it’s sheltered beaches and all for only £20.00 per adult per night. The photos alone are worth checking out – visit www.tipiwest.co.uk or call 07813672336

Did You Know?

This week is Wildlife Week – running from the 31st May to the 21st June, this year hosts a Triple Bill (three weeks) of events offering everyone the opportunity to get involved in an activity or project to raise the awareness of conservation issues. Run by the Wildlife Trust there is an extensive programme of local events designed to encourage everyone to interact with wildlife, from Bat mornings, owl encounters and rockpool rambles. To find out more visit www.wildlifetrusts.org or call 01636677711 to find out what’s happening near you.

Tipi or not Tipi ...

Fancy having your own tipi? What better way to observe Nature and local wildlife? Although described as temporary structures, the Tipi’s are strong and durable enough to be lived in year round. If that seems a bit too ‘green’ for you, they also make excellent garden rooms, retreats and can provide extra sleeping accommodation. Available in sizes from 30’ to 10’, all tipi’s can be made to measure and to your specific requirements and even the largest can be dismantled and re erected in less than 3 hours. An 18’ Tipi will entertain 8 people comfortably, sleep 4 and cost £2,400; a 14’ Tipi will sleep 2 and cost £1,600.00 and children’s Tipi’s are available at around £900.00 The Bedouin tents are also beautiful and have separate indoor sections for a little more privacy. All these are available for hire too. Have a look at www.sheltersunlimited.co.uk or telephone Bob on 01654761720. Offering friendly and down to earth advice the company are based in Machynlleth, North Wales and have an 18 acre site that you can visit. And make sure you ask about the light shows, where Tipi’s are used as projection screens – brilliant!

www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

Lynne talks to Alex Jones about Hip and Skip

Top Talk

TV presenter Alex Jones was almost as quick as I was to change back into jeans after a glamorous photo shoot to promote the George Thomas Hospice Celebrity Ladies Day Ascot Dinner. ‘”I’m working with kids at the moment on a series called Hip neu Skip (Hip or Skip) and it’s bliss going to work in jeans,” she admits. Sounds fun. “It is. It’s a sort of Changing Rooms for kids. Apart from a tree house that we did, all the makeovers have been indoors so far but we are planning to branch out to the garden. The kids love being outdoors. I’m sure being in the fresh air gives them even more energy.”

Is Alex keen to move the show outdoors too? “Definitely, I love being out. My boyfriend Matt and I walk a lot. We walked up Snowdon and I had new boots on. It was so painful; I had to peel them off at the end. I still enjoyed it though. I love living in town but we get out to the country to walk as often as we can. It’s so good for you. I work a lot in North Wales and it’s beautiful in the summer, I love the scenery there.”

Is her own garden in line for a makeover? “No, there wouldn’t be room for all the kids,” she laughs. “I call it a courtyard garden but Dad, Alun, calls it a path! I have room for a table and what I lovingly refer to as ‘the forest’, which consists of a pear tree, another tree but I don’t know what it is, and a few tulips. The pear tree is lovely but when you’re eating outside late in the summer the pears drop on your head. Dads good, he helps out – when he was over last time he said something about a plant and mumbled, ‘broom’ , so I went to get the brush! I’ve just added three stone-shaped solar lights too. They don’t give much light but they look pretty.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing what we can recycle in the gardens with the kids. They’re great and always find a use for things the adults would throw in the skip. They don’t know any different having been brought up not to throw things away. There are even places where you can take old furniture and they sell it for Charity, there’s one near Pontypridd. The trend seems to be for ‘shabby chic’ now so that lends itself to recycling and using older pieces. We recently turned an old bath panel into a piece of art for the wall. You have to be creative – it’s great to stretch the imagination. We are going to be turning an old caravan into a den for a 15 year old so he can have his own space. I think that’s probably the ultimate in recycling.”

For more information on the George Thomas Hospice Celebrity Ladies Day Ascot Dinner and other events that the Charity organise, contact Sharon Owen on 02920524150 or visit www.george-thomas-hospice.org.uk

These Boots are made for Walking

As Alex says, walking is very good for you and what could be better than raising money and awareness whilst you walk. The British Heart Foundation is holding the Brecon Beacons Challenge on Midsummer’s Day, 21st June. The event challenges you to complete a three peak, 12 mile course in the beautiful National Park. Not only is it a great way to keep your own heart healthy but also an opportunity to help the thousands of children and adults living with heart disease. I was horrified to learn that every 2 minutes someone has a heart attack in the UK and half of those will be fatal. So make a note in your diary, stretch your legs, enjoy the fresh air and make a difference.
Contact Delyth Lloyd on 02920 382406 or 07885 435655 or email her at lloydd@bhf.org.uk

Recycle the Recognised and the Random

For ideas on how to reuse and recycle familiar and more bizarre items visit www.recyclethis.co.uk Suggestions include using old dustbins for storing compost, animal food or tools, as a rain water butt or planting potatoes and other veg. Old tyres can be made into a swing, a mini propagator or a wormery and even old branches could become beautiful decorative candle holders. Ahead of his time maybe, I remember my Granddad making me a hamster house from an old TV set, though I don’t think today’s ultra-thin sets would have the same ‘kerb appeal’.

Did You Know?
Described as the Gardening Catwalk, Chelsea Flower Show is in its 85th year and is attended by over 157,000 people – that’s about half the population of Cardiff. This year the trend was considered to be ‘green’, hmmm – no kidding?
www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

TOP TALKING WITH LYNNE

Top Talk

I’m not sure how to introduce Adele Nozedar. “Put me as an author,” she laughs, “it’s great to have something legit at last to put on my passport.” Indeed this multi-talented lady could be ‘titled’ many things – the musician and photographer,(to name but a few) runs a popular (but remote)recording studio at the foot of the Brecon Beacons with her husband, and is currently researching for her third book.

The first, The Secret Language of Birds, launched Adele into a new career and lead directly to the the commissioning of her recent release, The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols – The Ultimate A-Z Guide from Alchemy to the Zodiac.
“It is a bit of a mouthful,” she admits, “ and it is a big book – it’s a huge subject. Harper Collins have described it as the biggest A-Z reference book on symbolic objects you’ll ever find.”

“It’s weird realising I have such little routine in my life these days. I quit the corporate life years ago when a serious illness made me reassess my life. Nature is very important to me and I respect it hugely. I love to be out walking with the dogs; with the studio, we often work right through the nights so I can be out walking at any time of the day or night really.”

“I love trees. They always look as though they are waiting for something but are always doing something while they wait. Whether it’s quietly forming new buds or unfurling leaves and getting their solar-powered system going. I love the way they age; their innate spirit and wisdom. Also they’re just beautiful. Every tree I’ve planted here has grown,” she tells me proudly,” which is strange when you think we are virtually on rock. When we first came, we brought in loads of topsoil and I imagined my garden looking like something out of Arabian Nights, full of scented roses and exotic climbers with funny names. Now my gardening mantra is ‘if it doesn’t die, buy a few more.’ Interestingly, we have a lot of St John’s Wort that grows wild and a naturopathic doctor friend who uses plant remedies insists that everything you need is within 50 yards of you. Nature sees to that. St John’s Wort helps alleviate depression and if you spent a winter up here you would understand why Nature provides it for the locals. I’ve just planted up a couple of pots with Calendula as I fuse the leaves and petals with melted Vaseline to make a wonderful soothing and healing ointment.”

So how are the recycling facilities in such a remote area? “During the foot and mouth crisis the dustbin men weren’t allowed up here, so we literally recycled everything during that time. It wasn’t difficult. I did ask for a refund on our council tax but they said no.”

“I think children are leading the recycling revolution but slowly, slowly it’s becoming the norm. Babyshambles were recording here recently (yes, Kate Moss came too) and their security guard growled that it was a waste of time putting recycling bins out for them. They were the best though, they recycled everything and loved it. In general, it’s too easy to penalise people, it’s far better to use reward than punishment. I remember when you could get 10p back on an empty bottle of pop, you didn’t see any of them discarded in hedgerows then!”



Nice Nettles

Monday sees the end of ‘Be Nice to Nettles Week, so there is still time to spoil your stingers! Nettles are still used in a wide variety of ways with the very young leaves being used like spinach in cooking, and roots and leaves are boiled to produce green and yellow dyes that are used extensively in Russia. They were even used as a substitute for cotton to make German Army uniforms in the First World War. In the garden they attract butterflies and if you really can’t bring yourself to be ‘nice to nettles,’ then they are an excellent addition to the compost heap as the nitrogen they contain fuels the bacteria that breaks down the waste into compost.
Ouch!
The stinging structure of a nettle is similar to a hypodermic needle, though of far earlier origin obviously. Each sting is a hollow hair with a little pocket of venom at the base.
The tip of the hair is so brittle that even the gentlest of touches will break it exposing the sharp needle-type point that delivers the actual sting. As kids, we were always told that docks always grow near nettles so they can be rubbed onto the sting and the dock leaf does indeed contain a chemical that neutralises the sting and eases the itching.

Water Wonder

It’s the time of year for grow bags, hanging baskets, tubs, flower pouches and containerised displays in general. We all love to look at them and pick from them but watering them can be a chore. Compost needs to be kept damp to be able to absorb water, when dried out, water will just run off leaving dehydrated plants and frustrated gardeners. A nifty little device promises to change all that. The Bottle-Top Water Spike is a plastic nozzle that screws onto a litre plastic drinks bottle. Simply fill the bottle with water – adding liquid feed if necessary – screw on the spike and place vertically in the compost in the container. The flow can be regulated through the nozzle and the ‘fill-it and leave-it’ system keeps the compost moist and frees you up to do other things. It’s also a clever way to recycle those plastic bottles. 6 spikes cost just £6.50 and can be bought from www.trevena.co.uk tel: 0845 2579123 and I have also seen them at garden centres.
www.lynneallbutt.co.uk