Hedgerow Ramblings // Blackthorn

Delicate white blossoms are twinkling in the hedgerows like miniature stars, this week. 

The blackthorn cleverly disguises its sharp, black thorns with these miniature flowers; all who dare touch are swiftly reminded of this tree's protective power.

Celtic tree and wand-lore states exactly that: the blackthorn wood's greatest power is that of protection.

In harmony and balance, the protection offered by the black thorns is combined with the symbolic white of the flowers, representing the tree's second magickal property: purification.

The duality of protection and purification make a blackthorn wand perfect for rituals and magickal workings which focus on grounding and stabilising inner emotions; providing internal clarity and a guarding against external forces of negativity.

Blessings.

Hedgerow harvest

The hedgerow is absolutely teeming with delights at this time of year - a real treat for the wild-food forager.

The wild blackberries, or brambles are prolific here. I have already collected a bowlful which are now in my freezer, ready to add to autumnal crumbles. Remember to wash blackberries thoroughly and soak in a mixture of salt-water and lemon juice, which will draw out any 'wild things' you've brought home with them.

Elder trees are now teeming with umbrellas of dark berries. You may remember my post earlier this year about the healing properties of the elderflower. The berry is equally useful as an immuno-stimulant, rich in antioxidants and vitamin c, very much like blackcurrants. It also acts as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory, making it useful for urinary tract infections. Take care, however, as the raw berries contain toxins which break down with heat - so make sure you cook them before eating. Come back to visit, for an elderberry and apple jam recipe, next time.

The dark blue sloes of the blackthorn are now beginning to appear. These make a fantastic treat infused in gin. However, they are best left until after the first frost so we will have more on sloe picking later in the year.

Rose hips from the wild rose or dog rose are another rich source of vitamin c and make a nourishing tea.

At this time of year you can also find haws from the hawthorn in the hedgerow, windfalls of sharp crab apples for making jellies and jams, and some of you may also be lucky enough to discover wild raspberries growing as well. 

Although the hedgerow can provide us with a cornucopia of nourishing autumnal fruits, please remember that we are not the only ones who will be making use of them. Birds, insects and small animals consider the hedgerow their only food source, so while it is a fun activity for us to go berry picking, please don't take more than you need.

Happy foraging!

Foraging

The village wise-woman of yesteryear would not have had access to online pagan shops, sending her sage bundles and juniper berries via express delivery; nor would folk have a Waitrose or Sainsbury's round the corner to buy pre-packaged bananas which have been flown thousands of miles and had their ripening process artificially sped up with chemicals.

Granted, these are extreme examples, but the principle behind them is simple: today we literally have our food put on our plates. Comparatively few people 'hunt' or 'gather' any more. While many still tend a garden to grow some herbs, vegetables and fruit and some may rear animals for their produce, this is a decreasing number in the UK. I would put money on fewer still going out into the countryside and 'foraging' for their food. 

At this time of year the hedgerows are springing back to life. We see nettles, dandelions and yarrow sprouting up; in a month or so the wild garlic will be out; come summer there will be elderflower to collect and by autumn the rosehips, blackberries and sloes will be ready for harvesting. According to researchers at Emory University, Atlanta, our ancestors ate 200 more plant species than us, gaining five times more micro-nutrients and three times more vitamins as a result.

Today I will focus on the humble nettle, more well known for its infamous sting than its culinary and medicinal properties. In the UK the nettle is ubiquitous, making it a perfect food for wild foraging. You can find them in fields, hedgerows, along pathways and - with all probability - in your own back garden. 

At this time of year, the leaves are tender and fresh, so you can pick the whole stem. You should avoid larger leaves as the plants get bigger, instead choosing only the shoots, and don't pick them once the plant has flowered. Remember to take care whilst picking them as they can give a nasty sting. I recommend wearing tough gloves - the kind of thing you would usually adorn for gardening. 

Once you have gathered enough, there is a variety of culinary uses for these mineral-rich leaves: soups, teas and juices are the most well-known, although our favourite seasonal chef - Hugh Fearnley-Wurnley - has a slightly more ambitious recipe for nettle tagliatelle if you fancy having a go! I'll be posting up a recipe for nettle soup tomorrow.

Nettles are rich in vitamins and minerals: they are an important source of beta-carotene, vitamins A, C and E as well as iron, calcium and phosphates. Medically, it is renowned for its astringent, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties all of which combine to recommend it for use as a remedy against hepatic, arthritic and rheumatic conditions, as well as in the treatment of allergies, anaemia and kidney diseases. 

Nettle tea, for example, is useful in the treatment of diseases and inflammations of the urinary tract; it is also said to be helpful in the elimination of viruses and bacterial infections. A nettle infusion or tincture used to wash the scalp is said to help with the regeneration and growth of hair, as well as reducing dandruff. Nettle juice, drunk before meals has the effect of reducing high blood pressure and improving anaemia; it is also of benefit in the case of renal insufficiency to drink one glass per day in the morning. 

Some words of warning!

With any wild foods, it is important that you take due care and consideration when foraging. Firstly, do not gather and eat plants, mushrooms or seeds unless you are 100% certain that you know what they are. Although there is a rich abundance of food sources in our countryside, there are also many highly toxic species to be found. 

Secondly, please be considerate of the environment and tread lightly upon it. There are many creatures who make their homes in hedgerows and fields so take care not to disturb them. Please also be aware that although some plants - like the nettle - are considered ubiquitous weeds, others are rarer and should not be gathered. 

Happy foraging!

Looking out of my window

My seasonal obsession with snowdrops was surpassed this morning by the glimpse of lemon-yellow through my upstairs window. ‘Oh my goodness! Already?!’ I exclaimed, springing out of my chair and grabbing my camera. Convinced my eyes were tricking me – it must just be a piece of litter, I reasoned – it was not until I got close to the edge of the field that I believed what I thought I had seen.

Primroses.  Now don’t get me wrong; the snowdrop will always hold a special place in my heart. But these beauties filled me with glee. Their delicate petals were sprinkled with dew drops as I crouched alongside them in the morning sunshine; I could only hope my trusty macro lens would capture their fragility.

Around thirty shots later, I still wasn’t satisfied. It would seem no matter what angle I tried, I couldn’t quite do their beauty justice. No still image was enough to demonstrate this little wonder of nature.