Blackberry

Blackberry. Rubus fructicosus, Bramble The Blackberry season has now just finished. Fruit gathered in, jam’s, pies and preserves made. Ok I only made a few pies this year. I have strong memories of blackberry picking in my childhood during the late 50’s and early sixties. I lived in a small village in Cambridgeshire and in late August early September the family mother father sister aunt uncle cousins would go on a blackberry picking picnic. We would walk across the village common to the best field with a bramble hedgerow. We took baskets bowls bags anything to collect the ... more

Roll up, roll up, food for free! That statement has a certain ring attached to it doesn't it? I know that Richard Mabey has written a very much talked about book on the subject of what nature can offer us in terms of nourishment. Sadly as yet I haven't read it, in fact I have just been very tempted to order a used copy from Amazon at just a little over £6. I have to admit to being a fan of Ray Mears and although I hold my hands up to only being a fan I love to watch Ray pounding his berries and making weird and wonderful concoctions using gatherings from the hedgerows. Blackberry picking just ... more

The blackberry bush is a common sight in rural areas where it can grow in hedges and produces masses of fruit. It can grow to several metres and frequently uses tree branches for support. Wild blackberry grows very quickly and sends runners out which soon take root and increase the size of the plant, making it invasive. The runners tend to go upwards initially and then return towards the soil where they can obtain additional nutrients. This plant is not recommended for small gardens as it will soon take over and become a handful. In large gardens and preferably fields in a hedge out of the way ... more