Stinging Nettles

Despite my somewhat wild childhood I had always avoided the wrath of the stinging nettle. It took all of 2 days in Norwich, UK for this to change.

Stinging Nettle - Urtica dioica

As I was walking my Uncles dog along the lake on the UEA campus, arms swinging lazily by my side, I suddenly shrieked in surprise! My right hand had found its way into the thicket of plants along the paths edge, which I very quickly came to realise was indeed a thicket of nettles.


The stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, is a herbaceous plant which can grow quite tall. All nettles are covered in tiny hair like structures called trichomes. In some subspecies these trichomes can pierce your skin and inject various chemicals causing the stinging sensation.

Nettles are used in a multitude of different ways, from herbal teas, to fabrics. In Kenya we use it in a dish called 'irio'. This is a stew of potatoes, maize and peas usually mashed together. The nettles are pureed and added to the mix turning it an interesting light green. It is then eaten with 'nyama choma' roasted meat, or a meat stew.

After subsequent knuckle grazes and even ankle stings I now walk very well covered and with my hands stuffed into my pockets. You probably should too!

Owl You Need is Love!

In late July 2012 I went for a short road trip through central Kenya. I started in Samburu National Reserve and went through Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Aberdare National Park and Lake Naivasha before returning home. The wildlife was unbelievable! From African wild dogs to Verreaux eagle-owls, African elephants to chimpanzee – I was spoilt for choice! 

In Naivasha I was lucky enough to get up close to a young African wood owl. Barely bigger than a bag of flour, it perched motionless, beautiful big brown eyes endlessly staring. 

African wood owl - Strix woodfordii 

The colour of their iris is a tell-tale sign to when they prefer to hunt; black/brown are nocturnal, orange are crepuscular and yellow are diurnal but, like in most areas of life, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

I learnt this cool fact on Wednesday evening as I embarked on a bat walk around the lake at the University of East Anglia. I also learnt that there are three species of owl that frequent the University campus; the Tawny owl, the Little owl, and the more elusive Barn owl. I hope I am lucky enough to get as close to these three species in the years I spend here.


A whole new world of animals and plants to discover – how exciting!