A walk in September England

A walk in September England.

A view of the South Downs England from near me

Are schools doing their best for country children in the UK? It might seem like a question that is a little selective, and it is. I remember as a child in the 60s when I was in an infant school in the country, we were taken for walks into the country side by the teachers. I grew up in the fields, meadows, and woods surrounding my house. I was lucky that my father worked on a farm, and so did my best friend’s father.

Haws, the red fruit of the Hawthorn bush.

Edible raw and has a dry dull taste, but very edible

By the age of eleven years I was armed with the Collins book of birds and bird’s eggs. My friend Christopher and I would walk for miles most nights along hedges and banks looking for the signs of a birds nest. At the age of twelve I could tell what kind of bird owned the nest by the eggs inside. I knew every tree and plant, even where to find edible fungi and berries. It is no good saying well that was fifty-five years ago and farmers will not let you do that now. Yes most farmers will as long as you respect their fields, close gates and don’t walk on and destroy the crops they have sewn.

The Blackberry Edible raw, sweet and morish 

Good for Jams and preserves.

At the same age I had robbed a squirrel’s dray and had a baby squirrel as a pet. He earned his freedom when he was a year old and escaped into the main house. I found him just after he had got into the budgies cage and killed my mother’s favourite bird. She gave me an ultimatum, either the squirrel was released or I would end up as dead as the budgie. So that night me and the little grey tree rat parted company. He got his own back on my mother for throwing him out into the wilderness by eating the food off the bird table outside when my mother topped it up.

The Sloeberry. Edible raw. Sour/dry. 

This fruit will test your taste buds to the very limit.

Not to be eaten raw by the faint hearted.

Good for Wine/Gin 

The point I am making is the country children know nothing about the countryside.  A large amount of children have moved there from the big towns, with parents that are no more country wise than their off springs. These children only know how to ride a bicycle in heavy traffic safely, and cross a busy main road. These pieces of knowledge are fine in town but they will not keep you alive in the country.

The Elderberry. Edible raw when ripe

Sweet tasting. 

Good for preserves, Jam, Jelly, Wine

I took a September walk yesterday and found food to eat in abundance, but most people walk past these trees and bushes giving them no thought. Even my daughter never knew that you could eat the little red fruit off the hawthorn bush. It can be boiled with sugar to make a paste and then into a jelly. It will make a jam or syrup that is just as good if not better than cranberry for meats. At ten years old I was picking them along with elderberry from trees and bushes eating them.

The Rose Hip

Un-edible Raw

Good for Rose hip Syrup.

All children should be taught how to survive without the luxuries of supermarkets and chemists. They should be taught not just the foods and fruits that will keep them alive, but also the fruits that will poison them.


Be well when walking in the country, but read below to be safe.

DANGER

It would not be right after writing this if i never put one danger that all should know. The WOODY NIGHTSHADE. This is the sister of the DEADLY NIGHTSHADE and just as dangerous to man and beast. It is found along hedgerows in strings entangled with the Blackberry and other fruits. It looks nice to eat but don't touch.  

Leave well alone, don't touch 

RED with this berry means DANGER and DEATH.