Love local nature in your neighbourhood
Each month we will be sharing a local plant species to highlight the wealth of nature and biodiversity that we can see right here on our doorstep in Brighton & Hove.
Many of the plants we term as weeds play a critically important role in our natural ecosystems by providing food and offering shelter for native insects, birds amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Most of our local plants are perfectly suited and adapted to live in urban landscapes and often help other plants to thrive by fixing nutritional imbalances in soil.
Red dead-nettle
This month we are putting the spotlight on red dead-nettle, also known as Lamium purpureum. Red dead-nettle’s beautiful and delicate crimson trumpet flowers tend to appear from March to October and provide vital food for our wildlife all the way through the spring and summer. The plant belongs to the same family as mint – a family trait is their square stems.
Where to find red dead-nettle
Red dead-nettle is a plant that can be seen on verges, playing field edges and parks and gardens within the city. Unlike the common stinging nettle, dead-nettle species like the red-dead nettle do not have stinging leaves and are soft and velvety to touch.
Why red dead-nettle is important
Red dead-nettle is an important early food source for bees and hoverflies as it produces both nectar and pollen. They have long flower tubes which means they are particularly valuable to long-tongued bees such as the red mason bee and garden bumblebee. The caterpillars of moths including garden tiger, white ermine and angle shades also feed on red dead-nettle's leaves.
Getting up close with nature
Kim Dawson, Biodiversity Officer, at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “In Brighton & Hove, we’re fortunate to have local access to the South Downs including important nature reserves such as Wilding Waterhall, Stanmer Park, and Castle Hill.
“These spots are an absolute gems to Brighton & Hove as they act as havens for biodiversity and provide an important home for a variety of chalk wildflowers, pollinating insects, birds and small mammals that may otherwise find it hard to thrive in and around a busy and built city like ours.
“But we don’t have to travel to parks or reserves in order to get up close with nature. In fact, many plants such as the red dead-nettle thrive in smaller and often overlooked spaces like roadside verges.
“These less formal green spaces help to create bigger, better, and more joined-up habitats for local wildlife. One example of this is our recent Wilder Verges pilot project, where we implemented a no-mow approach during the flowering season on 23 verges throughout the city to boost biodiversity.”
The Sussex Wildlife Trust recently shared information about the importance of wilder lawns. There is also further advice on actions you can take to support nature in your garden.
The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society have produced a booklet called ‘Wild About Lawns – Bringing lawns back to life’ with information about how to wild your lawn. As the booklet wisely explains, “The difference between weeds and wildflowers is just a matter of perspective – embrace the daisies, dandelions, clovers and other naturally flowering plants and you won’t see a weed in sight.”
Biodiversity is our planet’s life support system. Restoring nature underpins the health and wellbeing of people and wildlife in an era of climate change.