National Gathering to Celebrate a Fruitful Scotland

An invitation to attend the Scottish Orchards’ East Coast/Edinburgh Gathering - and see what you can do to create a Fruitful Scotland on Friday 14th and  Saturday 15th January 2011.

WHERE:  Edinburgh University, 5 Forrest Hill, EH1 2QL.  http://bit.ly/hDyVlR

COST:  Free (donations welcome!)

WHEN: Friday 14th and  Saturday 15th January 2011. 12 - 4pm (soup lunch provided)

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The event on Friday 14th is aimed more at agency, council,

Government people, designers, planners architects, developers and decision makers. This will address how orchards and fruit growing can fit into the urban fabric and address the growing desire by people to grow food locally.

The event on Saturday 15th is a more relaxed day aimed more at community groups and individuals and will have a skills training element and a strong networking focus. This would interest community groups, teachers, individuals, young and old, keen to create a Fruitful Scotland.

Booking forms can be downloaded at www.scottishorchards.com

Contact John Hancox, for details 0778 606 3918 email john@commonwealthorchard.com

WHAT:

A Central Scotland Orchard

As part of creating a Fruitful Scotland, Scottish Orchards applied successfully to the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund provided by FCS - to carry out a series of training, networking and support events, to help people to plant, prune, graft and maintain local orchards. 

Our vision is planting orchards for the 21st Century, close to where people live, work, or study.

A Fruitful Gathering

As a wide range of schools, community groups, community

gardens and allotments, local authorities and businesses all have a role in creating orchards - we are keen to get a wide variety of voices contributing to both days so if you’d like to present let us know - and also there will be plenty of networking and space to display information on projects.

A Fruitful Scotland

Scottish Orchards aims to create a Fruitful Scotland with fruit trees growing in every street, planted and looked after by local people and shared by the whole community.

Fruitful Schools (www.fruitfulschools.com)

We would also like to highlight this Scottish Government funded scheme to encourage schools to grow their own food. 

We have schools across Scotland keen to plant and need help to make it happen.

Snow!

One of the many wonderful things about Cuthill Park is its slopes and views across the Forth.  

*  ❄     * ❄             ❄ .     *  ❄    * .  ❄    ❄     ❄     * ❄            ❄ .     *  ❄   * .  ❄    ❄        *        ❄ *  ❄ 

This week, with all the schools in East Lothian being closed, the park was full of families sledging and enjoying the snow.

<<< At least one famous person was seen to be having fun away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

If you haven't made a snowman, had a snowfight or been sledging yet, get down to Cuthill Park before the big thaw!

*  ❄     * ❄             ❄ .     *  ❄    * .  ❄    ❄     ❄     * ❄            ❄ .     *  ❄   * .  ❄    ❄        *        ❄ *  ❄ 

Turn your eyesore to good use!

We don't mean to be cheeky....

...but you know that pile of paving slabs sitting in your driveway, and the leftover bits of decking in your garage, and the random builders bags, pallets and bricks...

....can we have them??

Get your (water) butt down to 

Cuthill Park, Prestongrange Road on

Saturday 27 November 2-3 p.m.

Hard Graft

On Sunday 14th November, the '4 Js' a.k.a Jan B, Jan H, Jocelyn and Josie, set to work planting the 105 saplings included in the Woodland Trust's 'jams, jellies, chutneys and cordials' community tree planting pack.

Using a plan devised by Malcolm, they planted 30 crab apple, 30 blackthorn, 20 elder and 10 dog rose in a double staggered row to form an edible hedgerow.

Fifteen hazel were used in two rows of 7 and 8 which eventually will form an archway into the community garden.

The weather could have been better and by the end of two hours we looked like we had been to Glastonbury but knowing we had planted he first trees for many, many years is a great feeling!

Thanks to Prestonlinks Woodland Group for letting us reuse their tree protectors and stakes.

Make A Difference Day: 30th October 2010

On Make a Difference Day Annemarie, Emily, Georgie, Jan B, Jan H, Katie, Laura, Nigel, and Tom were clearingthe scrubby area by the ScottishWater/Cuthill boundary fence.


We like to think that we Made a Difference - hopefully a positive one!

Next work day: Sunday 14th - tree planting

New children's play area planned for Polson Park

It is always good to hear of other public spaces being upgraded so the Friends of Cuthill Park were pleased for the neighbouring town of Tranent when they heard a new £100,000 children's play area will be built there.

Polson Park is the largest open space in the town but the existing play area has become run down and provides limited play opportunity. Recent surveys carried out in Tranent indicated that the play area was the single most popular reason for people to visit the park but improvements were required.

East Lothian Council appointed Jupiter Play and Leisure Ltd to design and install the new play area following a tender process. In order to ensure that the new play area meets the needs of children of different ages and abilities in Tranent Jupiter Play will consult extensively with local residents and community groups.
Cabinet member for community wellbeing, Cllr Ruth Currie, said:

"Polson Park is an important asset for Tranent residents but visitor numbers have dropped recently because it has become run down. A major restoration plan was prepared for the park but unfortunately failed to secure Heritage Lottery Funding in 2009. East Lothian Council remains committed to upgrading facilities within the park and I am delighted that the work for the new play area will shortly begin. I know from similar projects across the county that the play area will attract children, their friends and families to the park. It seems particularly appropriate that the park will continue to be enjoyed by new generations of local residents as we approach its centenary year." 

Polson Park was gifted to the people of Tranent back in 1911 by the trustees for the Polson family. The foundations of the park were laid out in the following years through the creation of formal walks, turfing and fencing. In 1925 the Tranent Miners welfare committee began the process of developing the park as 'a recreation ground providing facilities for outdoor exercise for the community'. The plans for the park dating from this time show that it was to be divided into four distinct sections - a games area, a children's play area, a formal garden and an open area for juvenile sports. This basic layout of the park remains today.
The existing play area equipment will be removed and the new equipment will be appropriate for pre-school children, early primary years and 10-14 year olds. Seats and litter bins will also be installed for picnic provision and the play area will be completed for opening by Easter 2011. In addition to the new play area East Lothian Council will also upgrade the path infrastructure of the park.

We hope this bodes well for our own plans to upgrade Cuthill Park.

Autumn Antics

The latest pieces of artwork to adorn the park's walls are the 'Lowes Market Garden' mural and 'Cuthill Garden'.  Both murals are collaborative works painted as part of The Big Draw.


The murals aren't the only new thing in the park: the area earmarked for the community garden has been flattened by a digger loaned from Cockenzie Power Station.  Lorraine and her colleagues from Mobex have kindly strimmed away the area along the metal fence ready for planting some hedging. 

Prestonpans, like the park itself, is forever changing.  There are several new housing developments within walking distance from the park and we welcome residents new and old, to come and be part of its transformation.  

On the practical front, we could do with some pallet collars (not pallets) which are always to be found on building sites.  They are perfect for building raised beds and, as they are stackable, would be great for making potato towers.
 
Next work-in day: Friday 22 Oct, 1p.m.  taking delivery of compost and filling half barrels.  Family-friendly, come along and help.

The Big Bulb Plant

After days of heavy rain showers we were fearful that the day of the Big Bulb Plant might be another soggy one....but no it stayed dry and bright.

The task in hand was to plant one thousand purple crocuses (kindly donated by the Longniddry & District Rotary Club as part of their Focus on the Crocus campaign) along with a further 50 Ruby Giant crocuses, 50 Purple Sensation hyacinths, 50 Remembrance crocuses, 50 Queen of Night tulips and 50 Curly Sue tulips (which were given to us for being one of the first 100 groups to register for the Big Bulb Plant).

Luckily, help was on hand in the form of the1st Prestonpans Guides, the Rotarians, Friends of Cuthill Park, our MP Fiona O'Donnell, friends and families.

We can't wait to see the blaze of purple next spring!

Thank you everyone for mucking in - you're blooming brilliant!

clearup weekend

We couldn't believe how much we managed to clear. It was good fun working and chatting. Me and tom really enjoyed the fresh air, labouring and chat! Can't wait to see the progress over the year.It is already quite a transformation. Well done to everyone for all the hard work!

September Weekend Clearance Work

before

While other folk were having a lie-in or heading off for the start of a long weekend, on Saturday morning Jan H was taking delivery of a 20 yard skip (if you didn't already know, these things are huge).

after

We had set aside two days to blitz the overgrown area where the Community Garden will be sited.  It became clear quite quickly that this was a bigger job than any of us envisaged.  Fortunately lots (over a dozen households) of people came along to muck in .

After hacking down the shoulder-height nettles, we discovered all sorts of weird and wonderful objects including a fire extinguisher, a games piece from Connect 4 and Pure Garage Rewind Back to the Old Skool CD.

Any initial fears about ordering too large a skip proved unfounded as we soon began to fill it with weeds and debris.

We also discovered this little fella....a shrew who must have been a bit bewildered at seeing several children all peering at him.

There were shrieks of "Can I hold him?" and "Look at the funny-looking mouse!" (n.b. shrews aren't rodents) from the kids. 

As shrews have a high metabolism and need to eat every few hours (some of these little mammals will perish if they go without food for as little as two hours), we retreated from the vicinity to let him find a hidey hole.

After four hours of tilth and filth it was apparent that we needed a second day so back we came on Sunday to begin the painstaking job of removing the nettle roots and levelling out the mounds of earth.

The area in front of the burnt trees is a horrendous mess of masonry, metal, Tvek-like material and broken glass - all of which seem to be fused together after the many arson attacks.  Clearing this section is going to be a long term project.

We've still a lot of work to do but we are almost at the stage where we can put in some raised beds and get sowing some vegetable seeds!

Next step is for East Lothian Council to remove the fire-damaged trees; and for the Friends of Cuthill Park to thin out the foliage along the wire fence ready for planting the edible hedgerow in November.  Why not join us?  We're a friendly bunch and you could be part of a fantastic community project.

A HUGE thank you everyone who came along over the two days.

Prestonlinks Woodland Group

After an initial flurry of activity, the Prestonlinks Woodland Group has been inactive for a wee while now.  


Perhaps the combined might of the Friends of Cuthill Park and Prestonlinks Woodland Group could achieve great things?  At the very least we could pool our knowledge, swap tips, share tools etc?

If you are interested in helping to manage two orchards, a small woodland and an area of wildflower meadow (10 hectares of land to the west and south of Cockenzie Power Station's Coal Plant) then come along to a meeting in the ante-room in Prestonpans Town Hall on Tuesday 5th October at 6.45 for 7.00 p.m.  

If you want to be involved but can't come along then give Stuart Macpherson, Biodiversity Officer a call on 01620 827242 or email him at smacpherson@eastlothian.gov.uk

Fruitful Discussions

At Thursday evening's Friends of Cuthill Park meeting we agreed a couple of work-in dates:

Saturday 18th September: 1-6p.m.
Site clearance
Removal of weeds, debris and dumped rubbish from the northern corner of the park.


Sunday 19th September: tbc
A second day of clearance, if necessary.
(This is also Speak Like a Pirate Day which be fun!)
Saturday 2nd October: 2pm onwards
The Big Bulb Plant
A day of planting 1,000 purple crocuses, kindly gifted to us by Longniddry & District Rotary Club (see here for more information).
Saturday 30th October: 2pm onwards
Any outstanding jobs, building raised beds etc.

We are also going to be busy in November  planting the 150 trees in the Woodland Trust 'Jams, jellies, chutneys & cordials' pack which will be used to create an edible hedgerow along the western perimeter fence.

We need LOADS of help to bring the plans for a community garden to fruition.  Please consider coming along to some of our work days.  It'll be fun!

Friends of Cuthill Park Meeting - Thursday 26th August @ 7p.m.

The Friends group is small and friendly and you are assured of a warm welcome.

We meet on an ad hoc basis in the Prestoungrange Gothenburg a.k.a. The Goth, Prestonpans High Street.

We've lots to discuss at the meeting including the way forward with the community garden and some of the exciting events taking place in Cuthill Park.  We would love to have your input so why not come along?!

Portobello Community Growing Space - an inspiration

At the Portobello Food Fair there was a wealth of information about community gardening, composting, knitting your own vegetables (yes really) but when it comes down to it, there's nothing like getting your wellies dirty yourself and learning by experience....

...which is something the gardeners at Porty Community Growing Space know all about.

The change to the Portobello Town Hall site in just over a year is astounding.  It's been a learning curve for all involved,  not least getting the Council on board, getting a bank account set up and having to deal with practical issues such as getting water on site.  So what would they do differently?

"Nothing" comes the reply.  "The key to the success of the project was getting the right people involved - people who would commit to the project in the longer term".

It's that sort of commitment we need to secure the future of a similar project in Cuthill Park!

MAY 2009

August 2010

Focus on a Crocus!

This year’s Big Bulb Plant in Cuthill Park (Saturday 2 October) is going to be even BIGGER, thanks to Longniddry & District Rotary Club, who have kindly offered to donate one thousand purple crocuses!


Hopefully the crocuses will be in bloom on Rotary Day, 23 February 2011 as a reminder of the amazing work the Rotarions do to eradicate Polio worldwide (the purple flowers represent the colour of ink dabbed on a child’s little finger to indicate they have been immunised against the disease).

Read more about Focus On The Crocus and http://www.thanksforlife.org.

Please help us mark this vital work with a blaze of purple colour next springtime!

A cache of reasons to smile

As previously reported, Cuthill Park is home to a geocache, one of several in the vicinity.

The latest cache is bringing people to the park who either never knew of its existence or hadn't visited for years  (which is exactly why so may people love this hi-tech form of treasure hunting).

Here's a taste of some of the comments left on the geocaching website:

nice cache and great view. thanks.

This used to be a swing park where i played many years ago. Nice to revisit

nice wee cache

A pleasant hidden park, nice murals

Prestonpans is just full of murals and was nice to see some more that we never knew was here

a great little park we never knew was there..

seems like a nice place to have a wee picnic lunch

What are you waiting for??

Love Parks Week - show Cuthill Park some love!

Love Parks Week is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the summer, with hundreds of events taking place in the UK’s parks and green spaces. It's a celebration of all that parks have to offer and highlights the need continued support for these valuable community assets, so why not visit Cuthill Park during the week to show what it means to you?

While there is no specific event taking part in Cuthill Park, why not take part in the annual Butterfly Count that coincides with Love Parks Week?  Or look at the artworks in the park ?  Or hunt for the hidden geocache?

Whatever you do in Love Parks Week -let us know and share your photos with us!

Big Butterfly Count - 3 easy steps to spotting butterflies in Cuthill Park

• 
  
  Step 1: Get Ready Download and print out the handy Butterfly Chart to help you identify and record the butterflies you spot.
  
  

  Butterfly ID Chart 2.2mb (.pdf)
• 
  
  Step 2: Join in On a sunny day, find a spot in Cuthill Park.   Use the ID chart to make a note of which species you see.
• 
  
  Step 3: Report back Record your sightings in July and August.
  Remember you can do more than one 15 minute count!

Find out more at The Big Butterfly Count

Pictures from the Big Lunch 2010

The first ever Big Lunch in Cuthill Park was a great success.

The weather was great right up until 4 o'clock when the rain came on.

East Coast FM staff and their families provided brilliant music for us and reportedly had a great 'team-building' game of rounders!


More sedate entertainment was provided by East Lothian Museums service who were on hand, in the shape of Debi and Julie Anne, to give a flavour of the type of fun that can be had at Prestongrange Museum.  We hope this can be the start of lots of joint iniatives with East Lothian Council.

The bigger kids were rounded up by author Annemarie Allan who thrilled them with tales of scary creatures set in magical forests!

And of course there was entertainment of the homegrown variety with guitars and frisbees and....running!  Lots of running.  Remember, there aren't any swings or other types of play equipment in the park, but there are lots of curves, slopes and rabbit holes which kept the kids happy for hours.

Notes for next time:
Everyone that was there came as a result of  having heard about the event from a handful of core volunteers/activists/supporters - proof that word of mouth works.  But why did the extensive advertising not attract a single person???  Are people simply community-minded or not?  Are they so disenfranchised from their communities that they no longer see this sort of event as being for them?  All questions to be answered another time...

People stayed in their own wee groups and there wasn't too much mingling but it was the first time anything like this has been tried.  Perhaps next time we'll have a mass conga or hokey cokey to break down a few barriers!

Geocaching in Cuthill Park

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Geocaching is a great way of discovering places off the beaten track or adding a fun element to an otherwise unremarkable walk.  You have probably walked past countless geocaches already!

Wherever you are in the world, you are never too far away from a geocache.  Prestonpans has several geocaches ranging from the quick 'cache and dash' variety to the multi-location puzzle-solving variety that take a couple of hours to solve.

Cuthill Park is currently home a geocache called "The Day the Park Smiled"- learn more at geocaching.com or watch the movie below:

Inspirational Community Gardeners

Isn't this brilliant?!  Wouldn't it be brilliant if we could do this in Cuthill Park?  Should we? Can we? YES, WE CAN!!!!!

How to create a community garden - More DIY How To Projects

Postcards from the Park 2010

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and BIG Lottery Fund (BIG) have again joined forces with parks charity GreenSpace to launch the ‘Postcards from the Park’ photo competition.



For your chance to win a trip to London and £1,000 worth of Jessops vouchers, enter at the Postcards from the Park website.

We think we know a perfect park to take your award-winning photos.  It has beautiful views across the Firth of Forth, plenty of flora and fauna and beautiful artwork.  Let us know how you get on!

Team Green Britain backs Bike Week

Being on route 76 of National Cycle Network, Cuthill Park welcomes cyclists and on today, Green Britain Day, we thought we'd share some bike news.

Team Green Britain has joined forces with Bike Week, the biggest cycling event in the UK, to create Team Green Britain Bike Week 2010.

Running from 19-27 June, Team Green Britain Bike Week aims to show how cycling can easily be part of everyday life. It’s a great opportunity to promote cycling as an everyday, healthy and practical lifestyle choice that can help the planet too.

By working together, we aim to make this year’s Team Green Britain Bike Week the biggest yet – encouraging half a million people to join in events, rethink their everyday journeys and switch to cycling as the most convenient way to get around.

Already Team Green Britain’s support has made a difference, enabling the funding of 13 workshops for event organisers, as well as new event organiser guides. Plus, in a new feature for 2010, Team Green Britain event sustainability consultant and professional ironman triathlete, Toby Radcliffe, will provide expert advice on how to minimise the environmental impact of your Bike Week event.

To find out how you could get involved today, visit www.bikeweek.org.uk - and remember to hold your event in Cuthill Park!

National Childminding Week - National Childminding Week

National Childminding Week

12 - 19 June 2010

National Childminding Week celebrates all that's great about childminding. What will your celebrations be - and will they include Cuthill Park?

Find out what it's all about here.

National Family Week - 31st May - 6th June

National Family Week is the UK's biggest annual celebration of family life aiming to highlight the importance of quality time together and promote the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle.

This year, thousands of record-setting, action-packed and fun-filled family events are taking place in every corner of the country so families everywhere can enjoy eating, learning, playing, exploring and getting out and active together.  Here's some ideas for celebrating National Family Week in Cuthill Park.


Monday:  Family Week Picnic - Mmm, enjoy the sunshine and take a few sandwiches and plenty of water.  Remember to take something to sit on too!
Tuesday: Family Week Film Day - Why not hire a movie We bet it's a while since you've watched Jurassic Park (Prestonpans Blockbuster, Prestonlinks Shopping Centre.  Tel: 01875 810891).  Alternatively, take a leaf out of the Nature Detective's book and make your own Minibeast Film in the park.
Wednesday: Family Week Story Time - it couldn't be simpler, take a book and make yourself comfortable.  Here a couple of our favourites: 

Thursday: Family Week Big Day Out - Why not join us with other families and go for a walk around the area.  Bring a dog!
Friday: Family Week Games Night - Take Jenga or a chess set to Cuthill. 
Saturday: Family Week Sports Day - Rounders or Swingball anyone?
Sunday: Family Week Feast - Round off the week's events with a barbecue and dream of the day when Cuthill has it's own clay bread oven!

More info: http://www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk/

Edinburgh Marathon - Cuthill Vantage Point

On 23rd May, the Edinburgh Marathon goes right past the park. If you are cheering on the runners in Prestonpans, why not take a picnic to the park and make a day of it?

Dog Watch

 

Irresponsible dog owners who fail to clean up after
their pet targeted in new campaign

East Lothian Council has launched a new
hard-hitting public awareness campaign aimed at reducing the problem of
dog fouling across the county. Dogwatch reminds dog owners of the
consequences of not cleaning up after their pets. Many owners are still
not picking up their pet's waste and instead leave behind piles of
unsightly and potentially dangerous mess.

Community Services spokesperson Cllr Paul McLennan, said:  

"Dog fouling is one of the top complaints received by the council.
Dog excrement not only looks disgusting but can also seriously affect
people's health. We have had a number of posters designed which carry a
clear message both in words and graphics that dog fouling is
unacceptable. Some people may find the imagery and words too strong but
we believe that this approach will shock people into modifying their
behaviour. It's not anti-dog but about responsible ownership and keeping
streets and parks clean and safe places for people, particularly
children, to enjoy."

Young children are most at risk to potential health problems
associated with dog faeces as irresponsible dog owners are failing to
clean up when walking their dog in public parks, play areas and on
beaches. Part of the council's new campaign is the introduction of a
neighbourhood awareness scheme. People who are plagued with dog fouling
in their street or local park can contact the council via a dedicated email
address or telephone 01875 824305 and pass on their complaints.
Wardens can then go out to problem areas to advise dog walkers of their
responsibilities.

The Big Fabulous Cuthill Lunch: 18 July 2010

You are invited to join The Big Fabulous Cuthill Lunch.

What is it?

An outdoor feast in the company of others.

Imagine a summer's day on which millions of us, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together on every patch of common ground.

The food, entertainment and decorations we will have grown, cooked or created ourselves. This will be a day to break bread with one another and to put a smile on Britain's face.  It's called The Big Lunch and this is your invitation!

Why?

Sharing a meal with neighbours is something rarely done nowadays.  In fact, many people don’t even know who their neighbours are. The Big Lunch is a brilliant excuse for introducing yourself to those people that you’ve seen in the street or at the shops for years, or with whom your path keeps crossing - or folk you see everyday.

As if that wasn’t reason enough for getting together,Cuthill Park is a beautiful place.   It was gifted to the community and should be used by it!

Who?

You!  Your friends, your members, your neighbours

What to bring?

a picnic,

something to sit on ,

and maybe something to entertain yourself or others (whether that’s a Frisbee or a guitar is up to you).

When/Where?

Sunday 18 July, 2010 from 2.00 p.m. in Cuthill Park, Prestongrange Road, Prestonpans

 B.Y.O.P.*

*Picnic (or, Party, Plaything, Paperback, Pastels, Pogo-stick, Petition, Pram, Plate, Pan Pipes, Playhouse, Puppy, Plant, Pencil,Petanque, Piano, Parasol, Pamphlet…)

What’s Happening?

This is a guerrilla-style D-I-Y pot luck pop-up event.  If you and your group want something to happen, then it’s up to you to make it happen!

Musical, theatrical, artistic, horticultural and culinary talents, to name but a few ways to contribute, are all very welcome.   Just remember the emphasis is on: FREE, COMMUNITY and ENVIRONMENT.

So What Next?

It would be great if you could sign up at The Big Lunch website, but you don't have to.

If you want to share your plans then let us know and we'll spread the word!

See you there!

Be Nice to Nettles Week

19 - 30 May 2010

Almost everyone is familiar with the nettle having experienced its formidable sting. To many it is a troublesome weed that should be eradicated wherever it is found. This point of view has only recently developed. Indeed the humble nettle has played, and continues to play, an important role in the natural world...

	The Nettle Where does the name come from? How does it sting? Find out here.
	Nettles and Wildlife Take a look at the wildlife of the nettle patch.
	Nettles and People Discover how we have utilised the nettle for food, clothing and medicine.
	Nettles today... What are we doing with the nettle today? - and what might we do tomorrow?
	Nettles in the news Take a look at some of nettley stories that appear in our newspapers and on our television screens.
	Get involved in Nettle Week Find out what you could do during Nettle Week - and the rest of the year for that matter.
	Nettle Week Events See what's happening near you or register your own activity.
	Nettle Week Supporters A listing of the organisations and individuals that support Nettle Week.
	Nettle Week Links Take a look at the web sites of our supporters and other nettle related sites.
	Nettle Fun and Games Try your luck at True or False? or enter our nettle art competition.

Why not try Lady Ridley's nettle soup recipe? Let us know what you think or tell us your own favourite nettle recipe.
Ingredients:

1 lb potatoes
½ lb young nettles
2 oz butter
1½ pts chicken or vegetable stock
sea salt & black pepper
4 tablespoons sour cream

Method:

Cook the peeled, chopped potatoes for 10 mins in salted water. Drain.
Wash & chop coarsely the nettles (Only pick the new, young tops,using gloves!)
Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the nettles and stew gently for a few minutes. Add the potatoes and heated stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes or until tender.
When all is soft, cool slightly & purée in a blender, adding seasoning and the sour cream.