Best places to pick blackberries
See the best places in our care to pick these juicy berries.
Blackberry-picking tips
Heading out in the hopes of picking blackberries for a crumble or to eat with some fresh cream? Here are our top tips for foraging for these delicious berries.
When to pick blackberries?
August, September and early October are the best months to pick blackberries.
- Look high and low
- When you find a likely-looking spot covered in berries, try not to completely clear the area.
- Try not to eat them until they're washed
- Tempting as they may be, you don't want to encounter a worm mid-snack. Instead of rinsing the blackberries under running water, place them in a colander and dip them in a bowl of cold water so you don't bruise them.
- Take care
- Wear long sleeves and trousers and take care when moving through hedgerows - otherwise you might get caught in the bushes or meet a few stinging nettles.
- Pick firm, plump-looking berries
- The squashed ones will spoil quicker.
- Eat or freeze your berries within 24 hours
- And don't wash them until you're ready to freeze or eat them, otherwise they'll spoil.
Don’t completely clear an area of food, leave some for the animals and give a chance for the plants to re-seed.
A quote by Jonny TomlinsonNational Trust Ranger
How to clean berry stains from your clothes
If you end up with purple stains on your clothes, cover the stains in white vinegar, leave for 30 minutes, rinse with cold water and wash as normal.
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