Wild Apples

July brings warm sunny days and balmy nights, ideal for going for a walk and having a look to see what is ripening in your local hedgerows.

Wild apple trees can often be found alongside park embankments and hedges.  Quite simply the result of somebody’s discarded apple core whilst out walking or thrown from car windows on roadside verges. Read more

The Cherry Harvest

Ripe cherries hanging on the tree

At this time of year our fruits are starting to ripen and it has been a very good season for the dwarf cherry tree with over 10 Kilos of fruit picked over the last two weeks.

Protecting the fruit from the birds is usually done by netting the tree, but it is just a little too big now to achieve this without causing a hernia, so this year we tried CD’s tied in the branches, this technique worked very well. Read more

Roadside Honesty

When travelling country roads one often comes across signs attached to gateposts or propped against trees proclaiming “fresh fruit and veg” as well as many other delights such as free range eggs and honey.

One such occasion was yesterday, for once a dry and mild Saturday, enabling us to take our dogs Buster and Charlie for a good long run to stretch their rain weary legs.

A day out by the sea was required and on the way we chose to take the back roads which wind past many small farms and villages.

At this time of year the soft fruit is ripening and sure enough, on a fence was a sign saying “blackcurrants and raspberries”.  Turning off the road onto a narrow farm lane overhung by what promised to be quite a crop of apples later in the year, we came to a small courtyard with a table bearing boxes brimming with ripe, juicy fruits.

At only £1.20 for 500g of currants and £0.75p for a box of raspberries, we helped ourselves to the pickings and left the money in the honesty box on the table. I think I got quite a bargain, as most of the large supermarkets charge around £1.00 to £1.79 for 250g of currants.

The next stop yielded some free range eggs, tomatoes, beetroot and some lovely home made lemon curd.

In fact all of the produce you see on the table below was purchased for just slightly under £10.00.

Some of the raspberries, we could not resist eating on the way home, but once home we promptly washed and froze the fruit for later use.

The Right to Roam

Picking wild berries and plants for food obviously dates back to the earliest days of man, but we have to remember that now most land is owned by somebody and we must respect this when foraging.

Various pieces of legislation exist and it pays to familiarise yourself with the basics. Read more

Apple Day

Apple day is a national event initiated by Common Ground in 1990 and held in mid to late October every year, promoting the heritage varieties of Britain.
Sample different varieties, get advice on apple growing, grafting and pruning, join in apple games.

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