Blackberry picking tips

There's something hugely satisfying in making something delicious from hand-grown or hand-picked produce. Seeing a recipe through from beginning to end is a treat in itself, and that's before you even consider the taste of something grown just as nature intended it. I try to avoid chemical nasties in my diet as far as possible, so for me, wild fruits are utter perfection.

Heading into autumn during the last few days of August, the small rosy fruits that have been silently growing among the brambles and nettles have finally started to ripen; it's time for blackberry picking.​

Pitching the idea of blackberry picking to my husband was a breeze as anything remotely outdoorsy gets his vote. So, during a rather hot and humid Saturday afternoon, we set out, paper bag in hand.

​​After just ten minutes, we'd gathered a good few berries, enough for a decent apple and blackberry crumble. We carried on hunting out the little black jewels for a good 45 mins before heading back to the house for some respite from the unseasonable humidity.

Blackberry picking is a great late summer activity for adults and children alike - notwithstanding the odd sting from a nettle or prick from a bramble thorn that is. I remember foraging with my sister and friends during those long summer holidays when the sun seemed to always be in the sky and time didn't matter.

Here's my big bowl load of berries from Saturday's foraging, just before I began turning them into delicious blackberry jam. Check back tomorrow for the recipe. Trust me, it's a good one and so easy!

If you fancy foraging for your own hoard of blackberries, here are my tips:

• Blackberries are usually ripe enough to pick during the last 2 weeks of August and first 2-3 weeks of September

• Be sure to wear old or at least dark clothes to avoid any sneaky stains

• A used, small paper bag is ideal for gathering berries as it won't damage the fruit and can be reused numerous times

• Pick berries at about mid-height, saving the top berries for the birds and avoiding any fruit low to the ground, closer to dog spraying height

• Use or freeze your berries within 24 hours of picking

• Only wash just before use to save spoiling the fruit

• Although Bristol City Council shocked foragers early this year by the mention of possibly introducing a ban to removing "the whole or any part of any plant, shrub or tree", picking blackberries is currently legal according to the Theft Act of 1968 (unless one is using the fruit for commercial purposes)

Have you been out berry picking? Feel free to send me pictures of your hoards or leave blackberry recipe ideas below... I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Before I go, I want to share some health info about blackberries. As a fruit, they're often far down on our list of berry favourites, after so-called 'superfood' blueberries and over-produced strawberries (only ever good during a few weeks in summer).

Packed full of vitamin C (a single 100g serving has 23 mg or 35 percent of the recommended daily allowance or RDA), low in calories and high in fibre, this brilliant berry is not only healthy, but also freely available during late August and early to mid September in British hedgerows (and good farm shops and supermarkets of course) up and down the country.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for my blackberry jam recipe or leave me a message or comment below. I promise I'll reply as soon as I can.

Thank you for reading.

Victoria