Today, while listening to BBC Radio Cornwall, I did something that took real courage. I phoned The Women’s Centre Cornwall in Bodmin to finally speak aloud some of the trauma I’ve carried since childhood. These are heavy experiences, woven from betrayal, harm, and deep pain that shaped me when I was most vulnerable.
As a child and young adult, I was groomed, sexually exploited, and exposed to experiences no young person should ever have to endure. The betrayal came from those I should have been able to trust, a distant relative and family friends, who should have offered protection, not caused harm.
For decades, I carried this quietly. It shaped how I saw the world and how I felt about myself. But now I see it differently, with clarity. I see that Nettle Revolution was born from these very wounds.
When I first became captivated by the nettle plant, I didn’t realise just how much it reflected my own journey. Nettles are misunderstood, often avoided because of their sting. Yet beneath that sting is nourishment, strength, and deep healing.
In my younger years, I was innocent and naïve, placing trust in adults who misused their power. But like the nettle, I grew roots. Slowly, painfully, yet determinedly, I found my way back to myself.
When I was studying at university in 2018, one of my tutors called me a butterfly. She meant it as a gentle critique, saying I had too many ideas and struggled to focus on just one. But I’ve grown proud of my butterfly mind. It flutters and flits, seeking inspiration and survival, ever curious and constantly in motion. I now know that this is part of who I am: a woman with ADHD and dyslexia, navigating life in my own way. It’s taken me years to understand myself fully, but despite every difficulty, I am a survivor. I have experienced it all, and still, I rise.
I hope I am forgiven for using AI to aid me in expressing my voice and message. Sometimes the thoughts are all there in my head and heart, but the right words need a little help to emerge clearly. This is part of how I overcome the challenges of ADHD and dyslexia, to ensure my story is shared with the strength and clarity it deserves.
My healing path has been long, and still unfolds. But it has revealed a deep well of courage and resilience. This is what fuels Nettle Revolution.
It’s more than a project or a brand. It is my way of transforming pain into purpose and vulnerability into power.
Through every nettle infusion I make, every thread I weave, and every workshop I share, I want others to know:
👉 You can grow beyond what hurt you.
👉 You can thrive, even when life has stung you deeply.
Today, I stand as a woman with an entrepreneurial spirit and a heart full of determination. I have chosen not just to survive but to thrive. And I want to use my experiences to support others who have been stung, silenced, or dismissed.
This is my story. This is my legacy. And even though I’m sharing it, this is not about me. It’s now about you. I recognise your vulnerability, your hidden wounds, your quiet strength. By turning to nature and allowing it to heal us, we learn to take the sting out of the nettle. It’s a visual and powerful thought that is deeply healing, transformative, and strengthening.
You may find your own healing path, and I encourage you to do so with all my heart. For me, it was nettles that found me, held me, and helped me to heal. Thank you for supporting me by being here. Together, we remind each other that healing is possible.
If you carry hidden wounds, know this:
💚 You are not alone.
💚 You are not defined by what was done to you.
💚 Like the nettle and the butterfly, you have an innate strength and beauty waiting to be reclaimed.
This is my Nettle Revolution. A movement of healing, growth, and empowerment.
I am here. Rooted. Growing. Thriving. And I’m holding space for you to do the same.
If you or someone you know is seeking support, I highly recommend reaching out to The Women’s Centre Cornwall in Bodmin. They offer vital, compassionate support for women impacted by sexual and domestic abuse.
Let us heal together, your nettle lady Jane x