British Wildlife Artist Writer Illustrator

Autumn Hawthorn Berries in the Kitchen Garden   It's late September and the hawthorn leaves are starting their seasonal change from the rich green fresh leaves of late Spring to the dry-looking, brown-edged, somewhat disheveled leaves that signify the early stages of Autumn. The term 'haw' is an old English term meaning hedge and hawthorn berries are an important and attractive feature of the British native hedgerow; there are certainly hawthorns in many London parks and gardens, Kent and Surrey countryside and hedgerows. Haws have a place in both the wildlife garden, as they provide good shelter and nutritious food for birds and other countryside animals, as well as the kitchen garden - for they are largely edible. Autumn : Hawthorn Berries in the Kitchen Garden From their flowers and young leaves to their berries that have a pungent zing of over-ripe apples, they are a very edible addition to kitchen garden, and as with the many other delights of this kitch...

Wild Fruits: Raspberries. Many kinds of wild fruits grow along the hedgerow and wild patches of land that increasingly border gardens and public parks and spaces. In the local woods, wild raspberries peep out from beneath their bright green leaves to delight the passers-by. Blackberries, elderberries, sloes, cobnuts and sweet chestnuts add to the choices for a keen forager. These are some of the fruits that can be discovered in the woods, without even having to search for them. There are probably enough to keep a forager in constant supply of nutritious woodland and wayside fruit, nuts and berries. Nature Reserve: Wild Raspberries at High Elms Country Park. With, what can seem like , an ongoing battle between growing a kitchen garden and developing a wildlife nature patch, a decision might have to be made by many gardeners - dig your heels in and carry on regardless, fighting a losing battle with the local wildlife over who gets which fruits and vegetables, or apply the old p...

Rose hips from the kitchen garden. The native wild rose of the hedgerow is known by many names, most notably the dog rose (Rosa canina). Once autumn arrives, the orange and red hues of rose hips become more noticeable as the last rose petals drop and their leaves fade. Kitchen garden blog. Rose hips heart. There are many uses of rose hips – not least they make for a beneficial natural food in the wildlife garden for birds, squirrels, deer, rabbits and mice. Even horses and ponies will contentedly munch on rose hips that grow around their fields. Benefits of rose hips. But humans can make use of the benefits from rose hips too - all sorts of home remedies and herbal cures are believed possible, including bringing health to the heart. Roses and rose hips are as much loved too for their beauty - so a rose hip heart sums up this favourite garden flower. A handful of rose hips were gathered with the intention of making rose hip syrup to ward off winter colds but th...