Invite to a “blaggers’ party in Holmfirth - that's blackberry picking to you and me
Sep 9 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
IT used to be a family tradition in early autumn.
A stroll down a country lane and the chance to fill a bag with plump, juicy blackberries from the hedgerows.
The days of “blagging” – a popular term for blackberry picking – may have almost gone but in Holmfirth they aim to bring them back.
This weekend, people have been invited to attend Holmfirth’s first-ever community blackberry picking event.
It takes place on Sunday, September 12, starting at 2pm.
The aim of the event is to show people how easy it is to find and collect produce in the wild, provide ingredients for delicious blackberry dishes and to bring people together in a fun event.
Fruit pickers of any age are welcome and the walk starts at Oaklands Health Centre on Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, next to the Memorial Hospital.
The walkers will head into nearby fields where there are plenty of blackberries.
Afterwards, from 3.30pm, there will be a family tea back at the centre with cooking advice, recipes, tastings and even some poetry inspired by blackberry picking.
The event is being organised by the Holmfirth Transition Town initiative (HoTT) and is part of a series of activities designed to raise awareness of the importance of making the most of wild food.
Organiser Martin Smith is keen to attract families along. He said: “Blackberries are in abundance at this time of year, but it’s amazing how few people bother to stop and pick them.
“We hope our community event will be a lot of fun as well as giving people the chance to taste the fruits of their labours.”
Anyone wanting to join the blackberry pick next Sunday is advised to wear long trousers and suitably strong shoes – plus bring a bag or box to collect your blackberries.
Car parking is available at Oaklands Health Centre and the event is free. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
For more information contact Martin Smith on 01484 687139.
HoTT, formerly known as the Holmfirth Climate Change Group, was set up this year by a group of people living in and around Holmfirth to promote community action to combat climate change.
HoTT has an active management committee and holds public meetings or events every month or so.
The organisation believes strongly that changes can be made if people work together and HoTT is one of over a hundred Transition Initiatives in the UK, others being at Hebden Bridge and Marsden/Slaithwaite in West Yorkshire.
