This Season's Crop

If you are a bit of a forager like myself you have every reason to be excited this year. A nice walk around Marton Mere today, I took the chance to see how the wild fruit crops are fairing. The apple trees, pear trees and scrambles of blackberry canes are absolutely teeming with developing buds. It is a sure sign there is going to be a bumper crop of massive proportions this year. Best get hold of a demijohn, apple cider on the house this year I think.

Keep checking the blog, I will let you know when the fruit is ripe!

Marton Mere

Up until quite recently, I took my first walk around Marton Mere, a tranquil refuge on Blackpool's urban fringe. It is an important conservation area which is nationally recognised as a site of special scientific interest for its bird populations, but also supports a variety of other nationally important species such as dragonflies, butterflies, bats and orchids. It is equally a quiet recreation area and environmental education centre for schools.

The site was formerley Blackpool Corporation's rubbish tip, today it is described as a biodiversity hot spot with a diversity of habitats including open water, reed beds, grassland as well as pockets of woodland and scrub. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy the area through the designated footpaths around the site and visiting numerous bird watching hides.

It is also a great place for foragers, here you will find plenty of free pickings. At the right times of year there is an abundance of apples, pears, blackberries and elderberries in the brush. Let us know if you find anything exciting.