Foraged some sloes/damsons from a local brownfield site (habitat was old gravel pits; now reeds, scrub, grassland). Just ripe enough for picking here at the moment.
Jelly, done. Syrup, done.
...The syrup’s somehow ended up thick enough to slice, so plans to thin it out (a lot) are underway!
I think engaging with nature through things like foraging are an important part of getting conservation measures in place. Because if people can recognise fruits and other edibles- ones they like maybe, or have good memories of- then that little appreciation can go a long way. Because then it’s not just big old faceless ‘nature’ anymore: it’s the blackthorn and elder you used to make jam; apples and plums you collected with your sister; nuts and greens and flowers you found while walking the dog. When a community are engaged with nature like that, I think that’s when you’d have such a potential for conservation action.
