Suggestions - Whats good to forage now?

[Broch]

Ha ha I'm anything but game

I've only ever tried sloe gin. But I've read that once you empty the bottle they make a good desert with chocolate melted over the top. I plan to make a sloe / rosehip jelly, with a few blackberries too perhaps.

The sloes are still very bitter even after sitting on the sugar and gin; I've tried chocolate over them but not enjoyed them.

However, after taking the gin off, pour a bottle of red wine over them, leave it a few days then bottle the liqueur; it makes a very fine port-like drink - very nice with cheese.

Edited - checked with the missus who made it; the wine was over a week on the sloes and, 150ml of brandy was added to it before bottling!

 

[Kadushu]

I'm in the process of grubbing out a sloe hedge. I planted it around 12 years ago and on balance I prefer damson gin and damsons in general.

 

[demographic]

Not sure I'd describe it as "in the wild" as it's more of pilfered from the trees at work but Damsons, Greengages and Apples.

The greengages easily trump the rest though.

 

[henchy3rd]

The blackberries around my neck of the woods(Derby) are the biggest juiciest sweetest I’ve ever tasted.
The plums are in abundance too.

 

[Robson Valley]

Knee-deep forest understory of wild blueberries by the handfuls. Excellent finishing food for our Ruffed Grouse. I have to cook the berries, raw puffs up my lips!
We've got at least 1/2 dozen different types of berries covering the forest floors.

 

[Suffolkrafter]

Knee-deep forest understory of wild blueberries by the handfuls. Excellent finishing food for our Ruffed Grouse. I have to cook the berries, raw puffs up my lips!
We've got at least 1/2 dozen different types of berries covering the forest floors.

Wonderful. I've never found wild blueberries. But one of my fondest childhood memories is of making wild bilberry tart, which we used to rake out of the undergrowth with a pronged berry picking tool. They are similar to blueberries but purple throughout, and absolutely divine.

 

[punkrockcaveman]

The bilberries are still going strong in some areas up here in Yorkshire.

 

[bigbear]

Blackberries superb, there are always apple trees in long abandoned gardens if you keep your eyes open. Autumn raspberries ditto.