Nettles are a wild food eaten in cold and temperate climates around the world, from Australia to Tibet. They are a free, ready source of vitamins A and C for anyone with thick enough gloves to collect them.

Nettles have been used by herbalists dating back to the Greeks to stop nosebleeds, and were used by the Aztecs to treat arthritis. They can be made into tea, wine and beer and are used as a hair tonic to reduce dandruff and make hair shiny.

Nettles in the garden attract butterflies and ladybirds, which are natural predators to pests such as greenfly. Organic gardeners can use nettles steeped in water as a fertiliser containing nitrogen and potassium, and as a natural aphid repellent.