After a record breaking long hot dry summer, surprisingly sloes are everywhere in the parish in great numbers and super sized. Where did they get the moisture to grow and ripen? Blackberries are the same this year.
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 Read more
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. 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 Read more
1 Comment
Fran · 07/09/2025 at 16:47
They are ready to be picked now, in fact some were going over. We have made this years batch of Sloe Gin – Recipe below. Happy harvesting.
Sloe Gin
Ingredients
500g ripe sloes
250g golden caster sugar
1 litre gin
Method
STEP 1
Rinse and pick over the Sloes, then pat dry in a clean tea towel. Using a stainless steel fork or cocktail stick, prick the Sloes and tip into a 2-litre glass jar, or divide between two smaller jars.
STEP 2
Add the sugar and gin, then seal the jar. Shake well. Once a day for seven days, give the jar a good shake. Store the jar in a cool, dark place and leave for two to three months.
STEP 3
Line a plastic sieve with a square of muslin set over a bowl and strain the sloe gin through it. Decant into clean, dry bottles, then seal and label. The sloe gin is now ready to drink but it’ll improve and mature over time – so, if possible, make it one year to drink the next.
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