It is a well established family tradition, that we head down to the Somerset Levels at blackberry time. Favourite spots have been recorded in the Sat Nav. Memories of bountiful bushes, rooted out by farmers in the intervening years, are mourned. Not all bushes produce the sweetest and juiciest berries. Blackberry picking is a serious business.
The children love it. As does the hound. There is a certain amount of freedom in the lanes. They are straight and very long, so the few cars that do pass are seen long before they reach us. We always see more cyclists than vehicles. Time to relax and concentrate on the serious business of picking berries.
As we gradually spread out along the willow lined lanes, the hound endeavours to round us up. Chivying the stragglers along. She runs between the children. Giggles from hedgerows as she uses her long nose to remind them to move on.
There are other treasures to discover. A recent dredging of the rhyne meant that a reed mace was in easy reach. Fun to play with and dissect. They also re-discovered the great big, seed heads that stick to clothes. Running up and down the lane to escape their siblings’ aims.
In between the games, blackberries are unbelievably collected. On the way home, they insist on holding their blackberry bags on their laps. There are squeals as holes in bags are found to be leaking the sticky juice onto laps. Squeals as an earwig is discovered hiding among the berries. Car stops to allow Bernard the earwig to stay on the Levels, but not before it is named.
Finally home and time to prepare the blackberries. Soon the kitchen is full of the fragrance of simmering blackberries, ready to be strained through the jelly bag. Bliss.
No wonder we do this every year. (Sometimes several times)
Linking up with all the #CountryKids again. (Congrats on the award, Fiona! Very well deserved.)
Sounds wonderful – lovely to pick blackberries, and wonderful to have such a fun family tradition. I’m glad Bernard the earwig was released back into the wild 🙂
I left him with a lone blackberry for his journey home. It only seemed fair.
Oh Blackberry picking is just the most enormous fun, we too look forward to it every year, they just taste so much nicer and are so much more satisfying than shop bought ones. It’s creating a wonderful memory that hopefully the children will carry into adulthood.
I can’t imagine buying blackberries. So much tastier in season, and free. You’re right, blackberrying is a wonderful childhood memory. I hope they look back fondly to our outings in years to come.
What stunning countryside! Love blackberries and it looks like the family (hound included) had a great time picking them 🙂
It is a lovely part of the world. I never bore of it…or blackberry hunting.
I love looking for blackberries! Lovely photos.
Thanks Laura. It is a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Brilliant…you have been busy…I miss blackberries ..we grew rhubarb and runner beans this year and this weekend will harvest crab apples for jelly ..yummy!
You don’t have blackberries in Alaska! Naively thought they grew everywhere. I love apple jelly. Always put rosemary or another herb in it. Scrumptious! 🙂
What a wonderful family tradition to have and to look forward to every year. We’ve yet to do this, though I was discussing it on our nature walk this week with my 3 year-old and she’s keen! And I love your hound – gorgeous! #CountryKids
I hope she enjoys her blackberry hunting. What am I talking about? Can’t be many children that don’t like blackberries. 😀
I haven’t been blackberrying for ages. There don’t seem to be many bushes near our village, but I do know a very good place now I come to think of it …
I hope you go and check out the patch. It is definitely worth it! 😀
I keep meaning to take 6yo out blackberry picking, must do that soon.
Hope you make it out this year, before the witches visit.
I have fond memories of black berrying, we still pick a few for us but in the past we came home with great loads, enough for blackberry and apple jam and blackberry jelly with some left over for pies.
I notice the mention of an earwig, I haven’t seen one for years, maybe because I don’t get down on the ground like I used to. lol
Lovely post.
Briony
x
I can smell the fragrance as I read your menu. Oh Yum! Just perfect.
Earwigs are still about. Believe me. The children are very good at discovering them.
Thanks for the congrats – we are so overjoyed to have won! I love this family picking trip, the area is so pretty and it sounds like you had a fun time foraging. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Looking forward to seeing all the photos of the award night. It must have been fun. And you won!!!
🙂 sounds heavenly!
And the sun was out!
Lovely photos and looks like you all had fun. We’ve just eaten blackberry crumble with the blackberry’s my eldest monkey picked recently….yum! Hope you all enjoyed eating yours too?!
You bet!! Every year I’m knocked over my the yummy scent of blackberries. 😀
oh blackberries!!! yum!!
what a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!
It was lovely. 🙂