Summer/Autumn Fruits

After a very wet summer there is a bumper crop of plump sloes ready to be picked. The blackberries are not so good this year, as last, probably due to the very wet July and August

The very colourful spindle tree fruit are showing very well as the leaves have gone from the trees. The spindle tree (euonymus europeans) has very hard wood and can be cut to a sharp point. It was used for making spindles for wool spinning and for butchers’ skewers. Charcoal produced Read more…

Along with the exceptional numbers of acorns, beech nuts, apples etc., there has been a really good crop of holly berries this year. However if you think you might get out and cut some well berried holly leaves in mid-December for your Christmas decorations you may be disappointed as the Read more…

A ‘mast’ year is when there is a super abundance of nuts and fruits such acorns, beech nuts, hazelnuts, horse chestnuts, sweet chestnuts, apples etc. Click on this link for the definition: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2017/10/autumn-is-back/ My experience walking around this year in late summer and early autumn is that this is definitely Read more…

There is a good crop of sloes this year, but you will probably have to move fast as the birds will be picking the crop as well. Sloe gin makers like to see a frost on the fruit before they pick them, but you can cheat by putting them in Read more…

Blackberries are now ready for picking throughout the Parish. These blackberries pictured are at the top of Halnacker Lane and are particularly abundant. Yum yum!