Liz asked "Do you think there is any point in planting a tub of nettles in a garden?" Some years ago I collected one self-seeded nettle and planted it in a hanging basket; later there was a caterpillar on that very plant.

The problem is that the butterflies (Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell) like nettles in a sunny, sheltered place. Most of us with small gardens, do not want to use such a prime spot to grow nettles when we could be growing something more attractive or edible there (but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder..) Personally, I don't intentionally grow nettles these days but I'm sad when they are destroyed along the edge of the footpath to town, which is an ideal spot for them.