Just a quick question

[Badger74]

What are peoples views on picking fruit/berries etc from reclaimedand landcaped former mine/pit ares and their consumption.

Reason being, I've a load of sloes near me on the former mine workings that have been landscaped years ago and wondered if theyd be safe for using in sloe gin.

Thanks

 

[user24]

can't see why it'd be dangerous... could be wrong though. Be careful when picking them is all I'd say.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Im sure there will be some heavy metal worriers along soon, but I would guess that there isn't much of this country that hasn't bee subjected to heavy ground works at some point in the past, as long as you have id them correctly then pick with gay abandon I say though, leave some for the birds on each branch\stalk,

 

[malente]

I'm a Heavy Metal Warrior, of the eternal army no less!

I would not worry too much.

Mike


---
- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ged]

You'll probably be all right in Leeds, which I assume was coal mining. Things growing on tailings from lead mines in Cornwall would be a different matter.

My business is on an industrial estate which was formerly a collection of coal mines. Apparently the water board had to use special water pipes because the ground was contaminated by the mining and the usual plastic water pipes let the contamination through into the water. :yikes:

But I eat lots of apples that grow on trees on the estate. I've planted some trees round the back of the warehouse, and one little beauty seeded itself there. We'll have a bumper crop this year.

The only thing I've noticed is that I'm getting steadily more senile...

 

[Paul_B]

If it's a coal mine then why worry about heavy metals. Lead mines are around the Yorkshire area (and other areas) but I don't see much of an issue of uptake into the sloes. Of course no expert in plants and how they take stuff in but I do know a little about minerals and I seriously doubt there will be much metals left to weather out and leach into the water and into plants. Seriously if there were enough heavy metals (assuming it is a lead mine of course) then surely it would have been taken out before closing. There are not going to be heavy metal loaded dam ponds left or anything as nasty as that. I think I'd be more worried about where the shafts and levels are. Mine collapse of old mines is always an issue. Afterall the stopes are probably just held up by rotting timber!!

If you are happy it is safe to go onto the area then go for it. Put it this way, if you were to make some sloe gin with them and if it found its way into a pass-around at a meet I was at then I'd drink and pass on. In fact if you do make some sloe gin with them and need a taster to make sure they are safe then...

 

[Ex member - Bilgerat]

Things growing on tailings from lead mines in Cornwall would be a different matter.

Yes Definitely....

 

[Badger74]

Thanks for that, I'll pick away.

Paul B the area should be safe, the bushes are adjacent to the road and footpath..but then you never know! And I do need to get to a meet, I've never been to one.