The sight of summer berries creeping into our hedgerows is a bittersweet affair. On the one hand it marks the start of a season in which even urbanites are persuaded to don a pair of fingerless gloves and dip into nature’s bounty. On the other, it’s a premature warning that autumn is on its way; Mother Nature’s equivalent to the person that says, “Ooh, the nights are drawing in now” when it’s still only bloody August!
Nonetheless, I don’t know of anyone that does not benefit from a ritualistic picking of blackberries at least once a year, especially when it results in a heart-warmingly tasty crumble. But to take just blackberries from a season in which many other berries also bloom seems a real waste.
Here is a guide to five forgotten berries that come into season over the summer months.