11/09/2026
The last blackberries of summer are waiting and there’s something wonderfully satisfying about finding a bramble heavy with ripe, juicy blackberries and filling your basket for free.
And there are plenty of reasons to choose locally picked blackberries over a plastic punnet from the supermarket...
1. Cheaper: they’re free if you’re picking somewhere you have permission to pick.
2. Lower environmental impact: picking locally means no intensive packaging, refrigeration or long-distance transport.
3. Naturally nutritious: blackberries are packed with fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K and antioxidant compounds – and picking them when they're ripe means wonderfully fresh fruit.
BUT before you head out with your basket, remember to pick carefully and responsibly.
⚠️ Avoid brambles right next to busy roads.
Apart from the obvious danger of standing close to fast-moving traffic, fruit and foliage growing beside heavily trafficked roads can be exposed to pollutants. Choose quieter lanes, footpaths and countryside locations well away from traffic instead.
🌳 And always check whose land you're on.
In England, the right to pick wild fruit such as blackberries generally applies to fruit growing wild, but that doesn't give you permission to enter private land or to pick on land that is an SSI. Don't climb fences, cross signs or enter fields simply to reach a tempting patch of brambles. If the land is private, ask the landowner first.
👉Just remember to pick only what you need, leave plenty for wildlife and always respect the countryside you’re enjoying.
So grab your basket, pull on a pair of gloves if you don't want stained fingertips and head out into our glorious Norfolk countryside to enjoy one of autumn's simplest countryside pleasures. 💚
What will you be making with your blackberry haul – crumble, jam, or perhaps just a topping for your porridge? 🍎🫐
(Photo - Annie Spratt, Unsplash)
