Now Forage

Blackberry: Fully black (not red or dark red) and comes off the stem with no resistance — zero pull. Dull rather than shiny; a shiny black berry is still slightly underripe and tart. Eat the same day for best flavour.

Hawthorn: Deep red haws (berries) develop from green. Ripe when dark red and slightly soft. Edible raw but mealy — better for haw jelly, syrup, or wine. Contains a large stone. Improve after first frost.

Raspberry: Deep red (or gold/yellow for golden varieties) and slides off the receptacle — the hollow centre is the tell. Does not pull: a ripe raspberry separates at a touch. Extremely fragile; use within hours of picking.

Stinging nettle: Harvest only the top 4–6 young leaves in spring before flowering. Use gloves — sting disappears completely on cooking. Blanch, steam, or make into soup. Do not eat once plant flowers (gets gritty). Highly nutritious — rich in iron and vitamins.

elderberry: Dark blue-black clusters when ripe. Cook thoroughly before eating — raw berries are mildly toxic. Ripe when all berries are dark and clusters hang downward.