Where would be good to pick blackberries accessible from North London?

Chomeur

It's blackberry season. I could buy them in a store, but when they cost £2-3 for not that many, it would make a lot more sense to find some to pick myself. There are quite a lot on Hampstead Heath at the moment, not far from where I live, but I'm thinking it might be better to head further out of London (to the north), for some that have grown in a slightly cleaner and less urban environment. Any ideas? Or do you reckon Hampstead Heath is OK?

Gigervamp

Hampstead Heath should be fine. When I lived in London I went picking at the local commons (there were a few near me in South London).

starrypuss

When I was growing up in North London, we would often get the tube to Trent Park (by Cockfosters station) where we would pick blackberries or elderflowers. Makes a nice day out too.

attentionseeker1

I just picked some in a park in South London so not much use to you location-wise, but that was a smaller park than Hampstead Heath and I thought they looked ok (not that you could see pollution!!!)

I should think picking them in Hampstead Heath would be fine.

I'm quite proud of my haul- but what could I do with them other than put them in a crumble???

Gigervamp

attentionseeker1 wrote: »

I'm quite proud of my haul- but what could I do with them other than put them in a crumble???

You can freeze them to use later. Open freeze them on a baking tray, then when they're frozen, stick them in a bag.

Or you could make blackberry vodka. Layer blackberries and sugar in a jar, then fill up with vodka. Give the jar a shake every day for a week or two, then store in a cupboard for 2-3 months. Would make nice xmas pressies!

Or you could add them to muffins or make jam.

attentionseeker1

Ha blackberry vodka! That's a great idea! I presume you need a decent quality vodka to make that?

Gigervamp

Some recipes say you need decent vodka, others say to get the cheapest because adding the sugar and fruit improves it.

:rotfl:

When I made cherry vodka (coming along nicely in the cupboard!) I just used a cheap vodka.

Austin_Allegro

starrypuss wrote: »

When I was growing up in North London, we would often get the tube to Trent Park (by Cockfosters station) where we would pick blackberries or elderflowers. Makes a nice day out too.

You beat me to it! I went a-blackberrying (I think you have to put the 'a' in front of the verb for suitable archaic atmosphere) there with my nephew last year. Loads to pick and a very nice 'country' setting but accessible by tube.

Chomeur

I picked 1.4kg on Hampstead Heath at lunchtime today. Would have cost £9.33 at Sainsbury's http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/frameset/redirect.jsp;GROSESSIONID=KBdJvhNQJ1QPsbhP5NYmb82BfM1pzmPQThlpZKnFCTY1NngrjVSV!-238935477!843102568?bmForm=deep_link_groceries_search_javascript&bmFormID=1250008457194&bmUID=1250008457194 but it was pleasant to be out in the sunshine, so I didn't mind the hour or so that it took.