 | | Within the Buckingham Palace gardens nettles play an important role in the wildlife habitat areas providing a valuable food source for caterpillars. I hope National Be Nice to Nettles Week is a great success and congratulate CONE on this exciting initiative. Mark Lane Head Gardener, Buckingham Palace |
| | Butterflies of the nettle patchMany of our most colourful and well known butterflies depend on nettles for the growth of their larvae. They are all members of the Nymphalidae ( pronounced Nim-fa-lid-eye ) or Brush-footed butterflies. This is due the front pair of legs ( which are much smaller than the other two pairs and so not used for walking ) being covered in tufts of hair like scales. Let's take a look at those you may see in a sunny nettle patch.  | Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta [more] A common sight in gardens in the autumn where it will feed on Buddleja flowers and fallen fruit. Migrates from Africa each spring. |  | Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae [more] The adults are frequent visitors to garden flowers. |  | Peacock - Inachis io [more] Unmistakeable resident butterfly with large distinctive 'eye-spots' on the wings. |  | Comma - Polygonia c-album [more] The comma was struggling in the early 1900's but has made a remarkable comeback and is moving steadily northwards. |
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| | Did you know? | Roman soldiers posted in Britain were reputed to have brushed their limbs with nettles so the stings would warm them in the cold climate! |
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