In Exeter, our annual blackberry picking expedition only took us as far as the end of our road. There was an enormous bush growing wild, but its close proximity to the house, and the fact it felt like our little secret, always made those berries feel home grown.

The children and I were worried that moving to Bristol might mean the end of this particular tradition of ours. Instead, foraging is more of an adventure than ever before. Not only are there a handful of small bushes in the lanes surrounding our house, nearby Troopers Hill is bursting with berries.   

Tucked away among the crowded streets of St George, we’ve really fallen for this little pleasure spot. The views over the city are pretty dreamy, and walking through the surrounding woods, it’s hard to believe you’re just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the main road.

There are trees to climb, a rope swing and plenty of opportunities for den building and daydreaming. In case you’re wondering, this is the face Izzy pulls when she spots a very hungry caterpillar…

This past weekend, we headed out into the sunshine and filled our little basket with almost 500g of fruit. We walked the length and breadth of the hill, strolled through the dappled light in the wood and wandered home with that wonderful, weary feeling of a morning well spent.

The children and I spent the afternoon pottering in the kitchen, putting our foraged fruit to good use. There were muffins {pop back later for the recipe} and an apple and blackberry crumble. It would seem that stuffing myself full of seasonally appropriate baked goods is the only way I can make peace with summer’s sunset and the beginning of autumn.

What have you foraged lately?

Love Audrey xxx