Elderflowers

Elderflowers appear in spring time and are wonderful as Cordials, Champagnes and wines.
Here's a few tips to help you harvest and process them.

1. Don't pick Elderflowers until they give off that wonderful unique pungent aroma
2. Snip of the elderflower where the stalks branch to make the frond
3. Remove the flowers from the frond using a simple fork
4. Remember removing elderflowers means you won't get the elderberries later in the year :(

Blackberries

Blackberries are absolutely abundant during the late summer months and this year is no exception.
A few tips follow that may help in harvesting this summer sweetness.

1. Blackberry shrubs will not always expose themselves. For example i have found really ripe and untouched (by insect) berries within hedgerows of ferns.
2. Don't be afraid of the stingers. They naturally grow close to the acidic Blackberries. They do sting but most times not enough to discourage one. The barbs on brambles are the biggest discouragement for me :p

Hazelnuts (or Cobnuts)

Hazelnuts are ripening early this year and i don't think the squirrels have noticed.

Here are some tips on foraging for hazelnuts.

1. Always go for the biggest nuts. The smaller ones are usually underdeveloped. Sometimes the very underdeveloped nut within is just a seed. That alone can be quite tasty.
2. If there is long grass below the hazel you'll find large amounts of nuts lying on the ground. However these are most likely to be discarded ones by the squirrel.
3. A small black mark or hole towards on on the base of the nut indicates it has a grub growing inside. If you can stomach the sight of it then you can usually salvage a large proportion of the nut within. If your hearing is sensitive enough you can actually hear the grub inside munching away at the nut!
4. When you pick the nuts they'll come in a husk. Leave in a dry open space for a few hours and the husk will lose the tight grip it has on the nut within.
5. Dark, blackened or strikes of black on a shell usually indicate there is no nut inside. If you squeeze the shell between thumb and forefinger it will cave in if there is no nut.
6. A light brown tinge on the nut usually gives an indication it is ripe.
7. Remove the nut from the husk by rolling the end in the thumb. If this doesn't work you may also try removing one side of the husk. This usually releases the grip.