The hedgerows are full of the bounty of the season. In the picture above shows Hop (Humulus lupulus) flower cones.
Crab Apples (Malus sylvestris) always look like they are good enough to eat but I've never plucked up courage. Close up the surface of a crabapple looks very similar to any apple you could buy in the supermarket. A little research has revealed that they are nasty to eat, that is until the first frost has been on them and as if by magic they sweeten. Might have to give it a go!
These berries belong to the Bird Cherry (Prunus padus). Apparently so long as you spit out the seed in the middle of them, you can eat them raw.
Anybody fancy a blackberry?
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is also edible according to this website. I have never tried them and normally avoid all red berries.
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) produces sloe berries at this time of year. I did try one of these but found them so astringent that I ended up spitting it out and foaming at the mouth for about half an hour.
There is a sign at Cossington Meadows asking you not to pick the fruit. It makes sense really since this fruit is needed by much of the wildlife over winter. Picking the odd one though wouldn't make too much difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment