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At this time of year our fruits are starting to ripen and it has been a very good season for the dwarf cherry tree with over 10 Kilos of fruit picked over the last two weeks.

Ripe cherries hanging on the tree

Protecting the fruit from the birds is usually done by netting the tree, but it is just a little too big now to achieve this without causing a hernia, so this year we tried CD's tied in the branches, this technique worked very well.  

You can use old ones and unwanted freebies that arrive in the Sunday papers, or we found that Middlesex University sell them at £1.50 for 30 blanks.

We threaded garden string through each one and then hung them in the tree branches (just like decorating a Christmas tree).

blank CD's threaded with garden string.

Cherries are picked complete with their stems to avoid damaging the fruit and then destoned using a cherry and olive stoner.  

CD's in branches of cherry tree

We purchased ours through Ascott Smallholding Supplies and have to say that we are very pleased with the ease of handling and the short work it made of removing the stones. 

We do recommend holding the stoner into a large pot or bowl, unless you fancy redecorating your kitchen.

Some of our cherries were used right away to make a crumble cake...(recipe to follow) and the rest were frozen for later use.

Cherry stoning tool

When travelling country roads one often comes across signs attached to gateposts or propped against trees proclaiming "fresh fruit and veg" as well as many other delights such as free range eggs and honey.

One such occasion was yesterday, for once a dry and mild Saturday, enabling us to take our dogs Buster and Charlie for a good long run to stretch their rain weary legs.

A day out by the sea was required and on the way we chose to take the back roads which wind past many small farms and villages.

At this time of year the soft fruit is ripening and sure enough, on a fence was a sign saying "blackcurrants and raspberries".  Turning off the road onto a narrow farm lane overhung by what promised to be quite a crop of apples later in the year, we came to a small courtyard with a table bearing boxes brimming with ripe, juicy fruits.

At only £1.20 for 500g of currants and £0.75p for a box of raspberries, we helped ourselves to the pickings and left the money in the honesty box on the table. I think I got quite a bargain, as most of the large supermarkets charge around £1.00 to £1.79 for 250g of currants.

The next stop yielded some free range eggs, tomatoes, beetroot and some lovely home made lemon curd.

In fact all of the produce you see on the table below was purchased for just slightly under £10.00.

Some of the raspberries, we could not resist eating on the way home, but once home we promptly washed and froze the fruit for later use.

Picking wild berries and plants for food obviously dates back to the earliest days of man, but we must remember that now most land is owned by somebody and we must respect this when foraging.

Various pieces of legislation exist and it pays to familiarise yourself with the basics.

CRoW (Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000).

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

The Wildlife & Countryside Act.

Northern Ireland legislation.

European legislation.

This list is by no means diffinitive and even local councils may have independent legislation in addition to those listed above.

It is always wise to ask if you are unsure.