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COUNTRYSIDE NEWS July 2014 Wildlife Around and About East Lothian
This month I’d like to take a look at some of those bits of wildlife that have a somewhat tarnished reputation but actually fulfil a valuable role in our countryside. Stinging nettles are not everyone’s favourite wildflower - for one thing they sting. They are also not that pretty. With their dark green, almost aggressive looking leaves (apologies for the anthropomorphism there) and their almost unnoticeable pale- greenish flowers they are hardly going to win any awards for beauty. However, if we view the nettle a bit more objectively we find that it’s actually a tremendously useful plant. It has a long history of culinary uses, including going into soups, teas and sauces. Nettles have been used in cheese production and in brewing, and clearly anything involved in the making of cheese and beer has to be a good thing. Stinging nettles have been incorporated into traditional remedies for a variety of medical problems. Now, generally such remedies should probably be viewed with a certain amount of scepticism, but there is some clinical evidence that nettles may be useful in the treatment of arthritis and some types of diabetes. Still not convinced? Stinging nettles provide the main food plant for the caterpillars for several species of butterfly including red admiral, small tortoiseshell and peacock, as well as many moths. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, caterpillars are very fussy eaters, so if there is none of their preferred food around they can’t just go off and eat something else. So without those horrible, jaggy nettles we’d be deprived of some of our most attractive butterflies – and we all like butterflies, don’t we? Small tortoiseshell caterpillars Alright, so if nettles aren’t so bad, what about slugs? Surely they just leave slimy trails all over the place and eat your flowers. Well, the first thing to point out is there are many different types of slug, most of which do little or no damage to garden plants or farmers’ crops. The majority of species prefer to eat decaying plant matter and can actually play a valuable part in the recycling of material back into the soil. The leopard slug takes this one step further and preys on other slugs, including those that are genuine pests. This species also has a spectacular way of mating (for those of you interested in mollusc reproduction). Two slugs will climb a tree, suspend themselves from a thick strand of mucus and will then mate in mid-air. Being hermaphrodites both slugs will be Leopard slug impregnated and will go on to lay a clutch of eggs in a dark, damp place. As if acrobatic sexual practices aren’t enough, it should also be remembered that slugs provide an important food source for many other animals including blackbirds, owls, frogs, toads, hedgehogs and badgers. I suppose that if there is a moral to all this it’s that conservation and the wellbeing of our countryside don’t just depend on the cute and cuddly wildlife. The ugly, slimy, jaggy and downright weird also have their part to play. Next month: rats, midges and the cold virus. Forthcoming Ranger Service Events: Sunday July 27th: Mills and Hills. A 10 mile (16km) circular walk from Haddington, along the Tyne, through farmland and the Garleton Hills. All bathed in sunshine (subject to availability). Hikes are charged at £4 per person. Details provided when booking. To book a place phone 01620 827421.