Searching for sloes

CatB_2

Hi Folks,

This is a bit of a long shot but does anyone know where I could pick sloes in or around Aberdeen?

I am keen to make sloe gin this year as budget Christmas pressies and thought I'd be able to just wander along any hedgerow and find them like I could down in Suffolk but I've spent most of this weekend searching with no success. I've tried along riverbanks, parkland and scrubby 'wildlife reserves' and found elderberries, hawthorn, rowan and rosehips but no sloes!

I have a car but would prefer not to spend a fortune on petrol driving a long way for them (although I guess it could be combined with a weekend walk).

Am I just too late for them up here? I don't think I've seen any blackthorn bushes but I'm not totally sure I'd recognise them without the fruits.

Thanks for any help you can offer

Pink.

Hi Cat,

There are still some sloes about here so I doubt if it will be too late in Aberdeen. Once you've had some input from the Old Stylers I'll move your thread to the Scotland board to see if you can get more replies.

Pink

oops zippy beat me to it again!