Odd stinging nettle

I spotted this stinging nettle in a local hedgerow - the leaf had been turned through 180 degrees, and the central stem was bright red and swollen. What could have caused it - is it some kind of infection?

2016 Rainfall

Rainfall through 2016. Rainfall for the year was round about average, although December was about half as dry as usual.

A surface plot of rainfall over the past seven years. It allows a comparison of the different peaks and troughs and when they occur.

Spikey Competition

The latest Smiggle competition, but this may be harder than usual:

Going by the small print, they expect you to solve the problem of Time Travel, as the end date for the competition is before the start date....:

Wildlife of Bradley Stoke - Eristalis tenax

Ants

Ants are impressively strong - here is one carrying a dead woodlouse, which is far bigger than itself.

A wildlife wordsearch

Sainsbury's reindeer scenes

Reindeer scene draught excluders - look pretty, but unfortunately not reindeer. Reindeer have thicker antlers, and different noses.