I will never get over the pure magic of having sweet treats growing naturally in the hedgerows. Reaching the end of September and finding little black gemstones glistening in the undergrowth always signals the true start of autumn for me, and the season doesn’t feel like it has begun until you’ve rummaged through a hedge, staining your fingers and coming out with a fistful of sticky, juicy treats.
If I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll head out with a tupperware box in my backpack to fill as I wander, and take home to add to stewed apple for the most perfect pie filling. Mostly though, I’ll just snack as I walk, and enjoy the wonder of fruit growing freely along the sides of my usual path.
One year, one day, I’ll gather enough to make jam, cordial or even a liqueur, but for now I’ll just work on having enough left over to use when I get home without eating them all on the way.
Whether you’re gathering for a purpose or just foraging for snacks, I can’t help but feel that picking blackberries is one of those things that is just good for the soul. If you haven’t been yet this year, I recommend you go for a walk in your local area to take in the changing seasons, and I bet you won’t have to go far before you find some blackberries.
