Painful adventures in gardening

Having recently moved to a house with a garden I spend as much time as I can pottering around, admiring the wonders of nature in my own back yard. I haven't, however, become a master gardener overnight. I know to deadhead the roses and attack any traces of bindweed I spy but I haven't even identified most of the plants yet. One spiky bush, with small red leaves and red berries, has become known as 'the evil red spiky thing' after the bush and I had a falling out. I was trying to do it a favour and free it from the bindweed winding itself round every branch. But the ungrateful wretch pricked and scratched me and now I have a lumpy red rash on my forearms to show for my trouble! I've tried dabbing on a solution of witch hazel, lavender oil and peppermint oil but it's not doing the trick yet. Any ideas on what the evil bush is (pictured right), or herbal remedies for my lumpy arms, are gladly received. 

Magic milk remedy

However, when it comes to nettle stings I have a marvellous remedy to recommend. My mother told me that when she went on childhood picnics and had a roll in a stinging nettle patch, she would be told to dab milk onto the inflamed skin. She couldn't remember if it worked and actually thought it was suggested because nothing else was to hand. Well, having brushed a bare ankle by a stinging nettle recently, I gave it a try. And it worked! Within a few minutes of rubbing milk on to the sting the pain subsided. Within an hour the little bumps had disappeared. Magic!