My Blog List

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Blackberry picking

Isn't it strange how places you think you know really well can throw up surprises sometimes? This is the field at the back of our house. It used to be a cow pasture, but over the last ten years, it has been left to go wild. There is so much wildlife here. Barn owls, deer, fox and rabbit, red kites and buzzards. I waded through the nettles and thistles on Sunday to pick some blackberries. It was a beautiful afternoon and I felt like having some solitude as life is quite hectic at the moment, and full of impending changes with my son preparing to go away to university in ten days time. I really enjoyed zoning out of all that, and doing battle with brambles instead.
Almost exactly two years ago, when I came out of hospital in a very weak state after a nasty bout of colitis, I would come into this field every day,  pottering around the edges at first, and walking a bit further every day. I always feel very grateful now when I am striding across it in my wellies.


Although the field is in close proximity to our village, this is a wild area where dog walkers don't go. There were rabbits at my feet, and I was just reaching for this bunch of berries, when there was a tremendous crashing in the undergrowth. I wondered what was about to emerge. Well, it was a stag. Honey coloured with a very impressive set of antlers. He was too fast for my camera, as he charged off through the undergrowth. I was quite thrilled, but in my excitement, like Alice I fell down a rabbit hole, sprawled on the ground with my berries held high.
There is outline planning permission on this land. It is supposed to be a green belt area, and it is very marshy too with poor road access. But I have noticed recently that buildings are springing up in all sorts of places where I don't think they should be. I believe that the present government relaxed the planning laws, and I think we are possibly feeling the effects. I'm not a Nimby, and I know we need more houses and agricultural buildings, but it pains me to see the few wild places that are left being eaten away. 


Okay, stepping off the soap box, here is my haul, complete with dandelion down on top. They are now residing in a blackberry, apple and almond traybake, recipe from the August issue of Country Living (the recipe is also on the website - thanks Karen :) ) 

13 comments:

  1. Mmmm. Blackberry and Apple traybake sounds delicious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Fiona,
      It is a really good recipe, with almonds in and on top, too. My family have loved it!

      Delete
  2. Absolutely agree with you on the relaxing of the planning rules - I'm getting cross at the thought of your wild space being built on so hope it doesn't come to that. I haven't been able to keep up with the brambles in our garden this year but now we have so many blackberries I'm quite glad. Have to look up that recipe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen
      I didn't want to sound too strident on my blog, but sometimes it seems that there is so little wild space left any more!
      Now I went to check on that recipe and it wasn't in the October CL, so I need to track it down. I am always doing that - making something from a magazine and then promptly losing it....

      Delete
    2. Its on their website under baking if you need it again. x

      Delete
    3. Oh brilliant, thank you :) Youngest really loved it and I like the way it uses up windfalls.

      Delete
  3. I hope your special wild space isn't gobbled up by yet more modern square boxes. We all need a natural space where we can enjoy a little solitude (and blackberries!).

    ReplyDelete
  4. We need these little spaces, they support so much wildlife! We do needed more housing yes but there is still so much space still in towns, and so many empty properties! :) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's true about the empty buildings. This little area is teeming with wildlife. I am hoping that we can find a rare newt or something similar so the developers would be thwarted! The planning permission has not been granted yet.

      Delete
  5. It sounds magical, a wildlife haven..what you say is very close to my heart as Fin's job is in the environment,
    "we" will all be so sad if nature silently disappears, I hope something can be done to save your little piece of heaven
    Thea xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. ~ I jolly well stepped into these wonderful pictures and enjoyed the trip very much I LOVE these special places that keep us company when times are a little low....I find my piece in nature and wild life! And I think most of us do too...I am wishing all will be safe here **** Hugs and Blackberry kisses *** Maria x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Vintage sheet addict has said what I wanted to say... I often see amazing houses that have fallen into disrepair and are empty. Do you know, thinking about it, there's nothing wrong with being a nimby, if we were all a more nimbyish we would have saved a hell of a lot of open spaces that have been lost. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes woolly dog, I agree with you, it's a fine balance between being a nimby and standing up for what you believe in. I am getting more militant as I get older!

      Delete