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Fantastic amount of big blackberries around here. Wife and I picked 3kg in 40 mins, and they are big juicy and sweet!There'll also be plenty of sloes. When are they normally ready?
Mainly blackberries on the allotment which grow wild at the edges, have some on mine, but next door likes them so pick some for her. Also some spinach seems to self seeded. I see you are in Shropshire, stayed in Church Stretton years ago (lovely walking holiday). We have a table at the allotment to put surplus produce that so far nothing on it but I will have too many cooking apples soon. Not much foraging to do in Enfield, but do remember walks in the country with tables of fruit etc. (help yourself) and an honesty box next to it. Nature is wonderful all that free food.
I Freeze elderberries and blackberries, they make a nice compote with apple juice and go well with yoghurt.There are several nice Mirabelle trees around the place. There are loads of sloes but I have never found much to do with them. There are lots of hawthorns around as well, have always been meaning to make some jelly. They are supposed to be good for Haw Leathers. There are hawthorn trees a little way away with huge berries. I think I might try some of those. I always feel as if I am stealing from the birds. http://justcookit.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/food-for-free-hawthorn-fruit-leathers.htmlOur Discovery apple is early this year, we have photos of it last year and it was third week in August, though I think that was late. It is just about ready. They have been nice fried in a little butter for several weeks.There are several apple trees in the hedge row, I have always avoided them but now we no longer have lead in the petrol, I suppose they are now ok to eat.
My mother used to say they should not be picked until after they'd had a good frost on them. We lived in Yorkshire then and the frosts came a little earlier than in Shropshire. Now I usually pick in October or even November but a day or so in the freezer helps them give up their juices.