Bilberries (Blaeberries)
I defy any individual to pick a pound of them in less than an hour. They are more common in the north, and the leafy green bushes cling low to the ground on heaths, moors and in sparse conifer woods with acid soil. The plants flower from May to June and sometimes bear fruit as early as the beginning of July, particularly in the south, though August and September are the best months. Blaeberries have a pleasant enough flavour to eat raw but they definitely improve with cooking – rinse them lightly, then put the wet berries in a pan, add a sprinkling of sugar and stew gently for just a few minutes, until the juices start to run.