Plump, shiny blackberries gleam like jewels in the hedgerows throughout September. Perfect for picking and turning into a tasty pie, crumble or your favourite jam, they also provide vital food for wildlife during the sparse winter months ahead.
According to legend, blackberries picked after the end of September are best avoided, as the devil is said to have spat on them. It’s certainly true that come October, the frosty weather will likely mean the berries have passed their best.
Berries should be shiny and firm when you pick them. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug. If the berry is red or purple, it's not quite ripe.
Although it’s hard to resist raiding each hedgerow, leave some for the animals and give a chance for the plants to re-seed next year.
Once picked, try not to stores berries on top of each other or they’ll bruise and squash before you get them home. Tasty as they might look, try to resist eating them until washed. The fruit will only last about a day after it is picked, so either refrigerate or eat it as soon as possible.
Top beauty spots for blackberry picking
Secret shore trail, Castle Ward, County Down – follow this trail along Strangford Lough for hedgerows filled with delicious blackberries.
The Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim – the five-mile hike from the ruin of Dunseverick Castle, along the coastline to Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway is peppered with native plants and wildflowers, including blackberries. Wild and rugged, the walk takes in some of NI’s most stunning viewpoints and offers plenty of picturesque places to pause and enjoy your pickings.
Mount Stewart, County Down – there are over five and a half miles of trails to explore at Mount Stewart, but we’ve heard that some of the plumpest berries can be found along the woodland area of the red trail.
Minnowburn, Belfast – this woodland just outside Belfast is a foragers dream. Look closely in the bushes and you can find a host of edible species ready to be transformed into jams, syrups, cordials, jellies, beers and gins. They include old favourites like elderflower, blackberries and sloe.
Florence Court, Fermanagh - follow the Blue Trail at Florence Court through native Irish woodland and seek out the berries in the hedgerows along the way. If you don’t get lucky, you’ll find blackberries and a range of other seasonal fruit and vegetables harvested from the Kitchen Garden available in the Visitor Reception for a donation.
The Argory, County Armagh– follow the path along the River Blackwater and keep an eye out for berries in the bushes – don’t let the blue flash of a diving kingfishers distract you. Alternatively walk through the woodland path and see what you can forage as you go – there’s an abundance of fungi growing here, some of which may be poisonous so pick with care.