"McKevvy" wrote in message
...
On 26 June, 10:13, "OG" wrote:
"David in Normandy" wrote in
. fr...



Sleepalot wrote:

Our ancestors used to hunt mammoth with little more than pointed
sticks!

Mammoth were easy. Have you ever seen cave paintings with the cavemen
carrying sacks of blackberries to make wine? Never happened, far too
hard
for them, all those stinging nettles. ;-)

To the OP, I think any weedkiller strong enough to kill off the nettles
would be a possible health hazard to anyone eating (drinking) the
blackberries. You could always use glyphosate one year, that would kill
off the nettles but only make the blackberries miserable, then the
following year there should only be the recovered blackberry bushes
with
no nettles. Blackberry bushes are not killed with a single treatment of
glyphosate.

Am I the only one appalled at the idea of trashing a species rich piece
of
wild growth just so the OP isn't inconvenienced whilst gathering free
brambles?

And surely it would be illegal without the permission of the land
owner/occupier.

Don't make me sound like a vandal. Your extreme reply is full of
political correctness and empty of reality. The ground in question is
a piece of natural ground which has a plentiful supply of brambles -
and unfortunately nettles too. As far as I know, stinging nettles
aren't on the endangered list and are far from it as I can testify
from the condition of my hands last year when I picked the brambles in
the same spot.
If you want to get up on your politically correect horse then fine -
but don't use words like "trashing" when referring to my proposed
actions. Im weeding the nettles out of the area to gain access to
brambles - nothing more. Don't you weed the nettles out of your
garden?
Stick your head out of the window once in a while and go visit the
countryside - you'll have a better idea of the reality of life that
way.

McKevvy


I confess I stand with OG on this. You may not mean to vandalise the
countryside, but that would be the effect of spraying herbicide in a wild
place. Surely you could reach the brambles by simply trampling the nettles
(which would allow them to grow from the roots again) or you could cut the
nettles back before picking. The latter option would actually benefit
wildlife, as the creatures who are attracted to nettles generally prefer the
new young growth which follows cutting back. The other important
consideration is that your herbicide spray would almost certainly kill
smaller, frailer - possibly threatened - plants.

I do recognise your pleasure in brambling and making wine. It is an age-old
country practice and part of our culture. However, I and many others enjoy
seeing nettles with butterflies and caterpillars (depending on season) when
walking in the country. Please, consider a gentler approach to your
otherwise acceptable harvesting. The countryside does not need weeding like
a garden - it *occasionally* needs sensitive management. I'm sure one of
the above options would suit your needs and allow you to enjoy your wine
with an easy conscience.

Spider