Foraging at Bomford

Blackberries

Come late August and you’ll find blackberries in abundance across the countryside. Our expert guide on where to pick blackberries, how to cook, storing ideas and the best blackberry fruit recipes.

Few late summer activities are as typically British as rooting through a hedgerow in search of blackberries. The hardy brambles that grow the plump little fruits thrive anywhere from dense woodlands to wasted shrubbery, making the blackberry extremely common.

Blackberries are also a particularly good introduction to foraging, as they are easily recognisable and are relatively simple to pluck. A popular childhood activity, blackberry-picking is a common introduction to foraging for many people.

Our guide on how to forage for blackberries in Britain, with a few key details regarding where the fruit can be found, characteristics and recipe ideas.

Grown in clusters along hedgerows, it is safe to eat wild blackberries found in the UK, although you should wash and freeze them first to kill any bugs.

The blackberry should not be confused with the black raspberry, which looks almost identical. The easiest way to tell the difference is by the core. Blackberries will always have a white core, with part of the stem still attached, whereas black raspberries are hollow in the center as the stem is left behind when picked. Black raspberries are a treat to find though – they are less tart than blackberries and make excellent jams.