Raspberry Beret

Autumn has arrived and the last time I wrote about my hedgerow adventures was Spring! Not that I haven’t had any. I’ve just been too busy enjoying them to find the time to write about them.

The memorable harvest for me this year was Raspberries. I’ve always managed to get an adequate supply of leaves but somehow seem to miss the best of the berries. Not so this year. Recruiting help not only increased the yield but passed a pleasant couple of afternoons by the river. It is a day of solo gathering that shines in my mind though. It was a hot day in early August and, for me, the best way to spend days like that is in the welcome shade of the woods. Sunshine still managed to glitter down through gaps in the canopy however, occasionally revealing a jewel-like raspberry hiding behind a leaf.

The best of them; the most perfect, plumpest, juiciest of pinky-red ones; never made it to the bag. They were, of course, enjoyed on the spot. A refreshing taste bomb enjoyed with eyes closed and a little squeak of delight as I shuffled contentedly through the woods humming Prince songs to myself.

But Raspberry picking is not an occupation without its hazards. Although the prickles of this plant are relatively benign, she often lives close to her more aggressive cousin, the Bramble. And, when Bramble has a hold of you, only patience, gentleness and soft placations will eventually extract you from his rough grip. I also discovered, to my cost, that Raspberry has another ally, safeguarding her from our foraging raids. With eyes on the juicy prize, my greedy fingers reached deep into the hedgerow for the best berries; always at the back, just out of reach; oblivious to the Nettles threatening to tickle my chin until a breath of wind woke me from my trance as they said hello a mere millimetre from my nose. I soon realised that the best ones are not always at the back. They are right in the heart of the hedgerow surrounded by a cohort of prickly, caustic protectors, waiting to grasp your ankle or sting your unsuspecting underarm!

Although I managed a respectable harvest, I’m still 400g short of a full demi-john of wine so I’m open to ideas on what to top it up with. Will Apple be too dominant a flavour? Bramble? Should I go with Nigel Slater’s idea that “What grows together goes together” and add some Nettles too? Maybe I’ll give up the idea of wine and make vinegar and syrup instead. Some of the harvest inevitably made it into a jar of vodka. This is a stunning big Raspberry punch on the nose but with perhaps a bit too dry a finish to it. Maybe the raspberries in the freezer might end up as a liqueur…? Made with vanilla sugar…? I’ll let you know how it goes…