This is the time of year for fruits to ripen. Look out along the headgerows for blackberries and also sloes on blackthorn bushes. Wash them thoroughly before using them in traditional recies such as CRUMBLE and SLOE GIN.
Hawthorns berries (or haws) are rich in antioxidants and sought out by winter visitor birds such as redwings and waxwings. Rowan berries are also a precious food source for birds as they feed up before winter.
Nuts
Oaks of course are famous for producing acorns, ground up in the Second World War as a cheap coffee substitute. More palatable today are hazelnuts if you can get there before the squirrels! Sweet chestnuts were introduced to Britain by the Romans for eating and can be found in the woods. They are smaller than the well known horse chestnut conkers, appearing as a set of four seeds within the casing. Differentiation?
Fungi