StoryGnat #34: Erm... moss?

I'm honestly not sure what else to say

Hi hi StoryGnatter,

If you’re a regular, you’ll know I often start a StoryGnat by introducing how I came across that edition’s story. But this week, I’m not doing that – because next week’s StoryGnat is linked to this week’s, and I don’t want to give away next week’s story quite yet.

So instead, hello! Have you subscribed? I’d love it if you did. Or hit like. Or comment. Any sign of life is good.

Anyhoo, let’s get on with this.

Bog moss

If you hurt yourself, you reach for a clean, sterile bandage, right?

Not if you were a soldier during World War One. The chances are, you’d be reaching for a dressing made of bog moss.

Yeah, doesn’t sound like a great idea, but it was. Dressings made of bog – or more technically ‘sphagnum’ – moss saved lives thanks to their impressive absorbency and its infection-preventing properties.

The moss was collected in bucketloads by volunteers across Scotland, Ireland and England.

Spoiler: You’ll hear a little more about those lovely people next week.

As ever, I’m not going to tell you the story if I can send you somewhere that already does it well. And we’re both in luck, because I have not one but two ways you can find out more. They both well worth a look, and they’re both different.

By the way, I know there are a few new faces here today, so if that’s you – HELLO! And if you’ve been here a while, a big hello to you, too. The more the merrier, I say.

I’ll be back with the follow-up to this StoryGnat next week. I trust you’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting…

Meg