Saving wild food
Sunday, August 31st, 2008Yesterday we trimmed back some of the hedge. As we did so we made sure that we saved ripening berries and plants for the wildlife. Without it they have a hard time surviving the winter.
Once into September, many landowners start trimming their hedges back, just as they are full of ripe wild foods.
Laws protect hedges from being cut in Spring so as to not affect nesting birds. Yet they can trash the stock of winter food without thought. No wonder many British wild birds are declining.
The Bryony will just come into full ripeness by the end of September, the berries full and glossy and very vulnerable.
Bryony (Bryony dioca)
Blackberries are at their best for eating now. But the second crop that comes into ripeness by September although never so flavourful,are rich in sugar for final fattening of birds for the winter ahead.
Blackberry (Rubus fructicosus)
Wild flowers still bloom, ready to produce seed not only for reproduction, but to feed wildlife also.
Betony (Stachys officinalis)