| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| PeteS |
Bilberries, whortleberries, Whinberries, Bleaberries, HurtsBilberries and ripe down south in the New Forest. Got a good haul this morning
|
||||
| judith |
Bilberries are a sore topic for me. I have two very likely patches, but something eats them every year while the berries are at the red stage 
|
||||
| dpack |
bilberries ace
a variable species from tiny and intense to almost grape sized and sweet sheep are very fond of them afro comb and a hat are a good way to gather them |
||||
| vegplot |
They can be the devil to pick. I think I might get stared at going into a shop and asking for a afro comb. |
||||
| cab |
Never found them wild in these parts, but thats not surprising. Gorgeous little things though, so tasty. | ||||
| PeteS |
I got help from Ray Mears... http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/549-Berry-Picker/ This is a great device and well worth the money. I think it's good value and is made in Sweden. Nice to get something that isn't made in China! Still a devil to pick but the device sure helps and I think it's worth the time. It would be a great family activity. I just do it while walking the dog, which I have to do anyway, and the dog 'helps' by eating them while I pick. I also noticed a large about of mini crab apples. Looks like it'll be a good year for them. |
||||
| Stewy |
eBay |
||||
| bingo |
I looked for some on tuesday.........didn't find any. 
|
||||
| PeteS |
Hello Bingo,
Did you have any luck finding wild strawberries? I have got a few here and there but no great numbers. In the New Forest the bilberry plant is very common but it's hard to find a spot where they are fruiting. I think that the deer and ponies graze on the foliage, preventing it from fruiting. The way I find a good spot is to look and see if the plant is flowering in the spring - if you see an area with lots of flowers there is a good chance of lots for fruit. |
||||
| bingo |
Yeah found some wild strawbs in winchester. | ||||
| Quail By Mail |
Sort of off topic but you know when you see lots of nicely packaged Bilberry jam (or similar) in a deli/farmers market are there people out there growing it commercially? Or do armies of pickers head to the hills for the wild stuff? | ||||
| Slim |
Looks like a blueberry rake to me. Google blueberry rake or cranberry rake and you might be able to find one on a pole. (bit of a back saver  )
|
||||
| Fee |
We found a fair few billberries (or whortleberries/whorts as they call them in them there parts) in the quantocks the other week, yumm.
Also found a patch of wild strawbs over the road from here, which reminds me, there's probably more by now! |
||||
| PeteS |
Yes, bilberries are very good. Lots in Surrey too. Around Leith Hill is supposed to be good. In these parts they were called Hurts - hence Hurtwood. |
||||
| AnnaD |
We have millions of bilberry bushes up in the Pentland hills, but I'm not sure if they're ripe yet. I'll have to go up and have a look at some point. |