The many reasons why we love blackberries - and why they are good for us and wildlife!

For many people, one of their favourite childhood memories is picking blackberries – and then greedily eating them before your parents can turn them into jam or crumble. 

That’s certainly the case for Albie at Brays Farm in Nutfield, who enjoyed munching on them as his parents milked the cows, and Rory, the grandson of CRT trustee William Cross, who enjoyed them when stopped for a snack in a Kubota Rough Terrain Vehicle and clearly loved them from his cheeky-stained grin! 

Wonderfully, across many of the CRT’s farms, we are noticing a bumper crop this year. There’s lots to be found at Pierrepont Farm and Green Farm in Surrey, and Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset - to name just a few! 

Albie eating blackberries in the dairy at Brays Farm in Surrey.

Rory stopping for a well earned rest and healthy snack with his Grandad William Cross

Albie picking blackberries at Brays Farm in Surrey.

And Matt Elphick, of Brays Farm in Nutfield, Surrey, said his hedgerows are full of blackberries.  The hardy brambles can thrive anywhere from woodlands and thick scrub to field edges and country lanes. 

“They are the best I’ve ever seen. I think it’s because we haven’t cut the hedgerows for a few years now.” 

At Pierrepont Farm, our head of estates Kerriann McLackland reported a bumper crop this year. "They are delicious I am told on good authority," she said.

For Sue Everett, our chair of trustees, picking blackberries is a ritual. 

“I now have a favourite bush on the edge of a field near where I live where the blackberries are always huge and juicy.” 

Are blackberries good for wildlife? 

“Yes!” says  Vince Lea, our conservation officer at Lark Rise Farm in Cambridgeshire.  

“When hedges are not over managed and are allowed to grow, then blackberries will fair well. They are not only good for people who like to forage but also for wildlife too."

Vince says so much wildlife feed on blackberries, it’s hard to pick an individual. 

“They are an abundant source of high energy sugars and other nutrition, coming when a lot of other food sources are drying up. The fruit is consumed whole by larger birds, like Starlings and Blackbirds, or pecked at to get the seeds out by seed-eaters, like House Sparrows and Bullfinches.  

“They are also important for small mammals, like Wood Mice and Hazel Dormice but larger animals also feed on them, such as Badgers and Foxes, and the juices are fed on by butterflies, moths, wasps, flies and many other insects.” 

Our head of content Andrew James even spotted some large chub – one of our larger river fish – holding their position just below a blackberry bush, waiting for the fruit to fall in. “When I dropped a couple in for them, they went mad for them!” he says.

Is it safe to pick blackberries?

Sue says it is absolutely safe to eat wild blackberries found in the UK.

“However, it is a good idea to pick them away from busy roads, both for safety reasons, and because they can become contaminated with pollutants.

“It's also best to avoid picking blackberries that are low on the bush, where dogs may have been to the toilet.”

It's a good idea to give your blackberries a wash too before eating them.

Once I’ve picked blackberries, how do I freeze them? 
 
Sue, who makes sure to collect blackberries every year, says: “They won’t keep for long so if you have a lot, it’s a good idea to freeze them after you have cleaned them. Freezing them will also help kill bugs. I find it helps to lay them out on trays and freeze them that way before then putting them in bags. It helps the fruit to keep their shape and not form a big clump.” 

Delicious blackberries at Brays Farm

What can I make with blackberries? 

Sue says: “I pick loads, freeze some and have some every morning for breakfast. I love making apple and blackberry crumble.” 

While Vince recommends steeping blackberries in cheap whisky and adding a bit of sugar as an alternative to Sloe Gin. 

“It takes a few months to make but it’s delicious,” he says. 

Matt gives another vote for apple and blackberry crumble.

“Albie also enjoys making blackberry muffins and they go very well with our natural yoghurt for an easy dessert,” he says. 

For more blackberry recipes to try, why not look at www.bbc.co.uk/food/blackberry? Lots of great suggestions from jam to fruit tarts. 

Are blackberries good for me? 
 
Yes! Not only are they good for the wildlife, but they are also good for humans too!  

Blackberries are rich in antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid. These compounds help combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and protect against chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. 

We also love blackberries because they are a great source of fibre, they support bone health, thanks to Vitamin K, and are also beneficial for heart health thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties too. The antioxidants in blackberries can also protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline and help memory function. 

And the best thing about blackberries is they really can grow anywhere - why not turn a corner of your garden over to brambles and you’ll discover your own bumper crop next year!