Season Window
15 Sep – 30 NovDense hedgerows, scrub, woodland margins and old boundaries
Autumn sloes
Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa
Its dark fruit and fierce thorns make the autumn hedge feel both generous and guarded.
Harvest
How we meet this plant
Gather a small share of ripe sloes from abundant hedges and leave fruit for birds.
Preparation
At the kitchen table
Sloes are traditionally cooked or steeped for preserves and flavouring; remove stones before processing.
Community Use
Why we teach it
A good plant for discussing hedgerow shelter, fruiting and safe handling.
Safety
Do not crack or eat the stones, which contain cyanogenic compounds. Beware sharp thorns and avoid raw astringent fruit in quantity.