Plymouth has a good sized park just north of the main railway station. It’s aptly named Central Park and I have been walking around it on a reasonably frequent basis.
Image from Google Earth
In the south east corner is an adjacent cemetery. Actually it’s Ford Park Cemetery and was established in 1846 <click here>.
A few days ago I came upon an area of allotments in the north-east corner. For non UK readers an allotment is a piece of rented ground used by individuals to grow produce for personal consumption. I assume this is because most homes don’t have a backyard of sufficient size.
Anyway, the boundary fence around the allotments was overgrown with wild blackberries and they were starting to ripen. So the following morning I went to Wilkinsons and purchased a cheap (99p) pair of leather faced gardening gloves and then headed for the park with a plastic bag and an empty 2 litre ice cream container.
Having done all the hard and dangerous work I asked Jan if she could convert them into something more eatable.
The jam has a delicious tang (perhaps due to the dogs cocking their legs on the lower berries! - I just added that piece of information so I won’t have to share with Jan). Actually they are so darned nice I’ve been back for a second 2 litre container and will probably go back for a third and fourth time. Jan informs me “No more blackberries as we don’t have any spare glass jars!” However I’m of the opinion the berries can be frozen whilst I attempt to eat the contents of the required number of jars!
Hi Tom and Jan,
ReplyDeleteI like your hedgerow foraging and making something out of what you found post. Is that a Blackberry Crumble you have made???
Look out for Sloe berries to make Sloe Gin for Xmas, and also hazel nuts and Chestnuts around September/October time.
Ive read your blog for a while and can only say it can only get better from here on,,, thats just how I like to look at things.
Regards
Paul
Before we left Oz Jan bought a book from the UK on hedgerow cooking. Unfortunately there was no room in the suitcase so we are going to have to experiment!
ReplyDeleteI have the role as chief taster:-()
Ah ha, You must make Sloe Gin production a top priority if you are the chief taster, The books say it takes months for the flavour to mature. That gives you months to perfect the recipy. ;-)
ReplyDelete