Nettles put through their paces at festival

THE nettle was the star at the Scottish Crannog Centre in Perthshire yesterday.

Visitors were encouraged to celebrate the many uses of the stinging weed as the attraction held its annual Festival of Nettles.

Ancient nettle fragments have been discovered at the 2,600-year-old site of Oakbank Crannog at the centre near Kenmore on the banks of Loch Tay.

Staff there believe their Iron Age ancestors used nettle, which is rich in vitamin C, as a herb, a substitute for spinach, and in soup.

It has a number of medicinal applications and can be used as a soap, shampoo or to ease arthritis. Nettle fibres can also be spun into a silky cloth, or twisted and plaited to make string and rope.

Centre director Barrie Andrian said: “It seems our Iron Age ancestors couldn’t get enough of the plants, in contrast to many people today who merely view them as pesky weeds.”

Visitors to the centre were given the chance to taste a range of nettle foods, including bread made in Iron age style ovens, nettle soup and nettle spaghetti.

Perthshire nettle expert and textile artist Birte Ford were also on hand to give nettle weaving demonstrations.