A Walk and a Sweet Concoction

A fisherman I chatted with the other day mentioned that he was camping at a riverside farm, Leeford Farm, close to the village of Brendon, about a mile away.

I often walk to Brendon. So it's time to check it out.

On the way I detoured slightly to Hall Farm to check out the roadside offerings on sale. There are no eggs today, but tasty cake slices.

Yes, there are three Rheas here, chickens, and at least one noisy rooster. I bought a few slices because I know there are roadside tubs of baking apples in Brendon (1 Pound for six) and I have something in mind.

On to Leeford Farm and the riverside camping site. It's a very pretty location with only a few occupants at present. It's quite large and I doubt it's ever remotely close to full.

This is the lane to Leeford Farm. On both sides are blackberry bushes, which are ubiquitous on roadsides and trailsides here.

I've been eating ripe berries for several weeks now.

Now that I've had quite a bit of experience, I'll offer some tips about picking berries.

First, check carefully for spiderwebs which are very common between the branches. Tilt you head if necessary to get the proper perceptual tangent. One doesn't want to gratuitously destroy an intricate web. Look carefully for the spider in the center.

Next, pick a berry as follows: carefully, enclose a berry between thumb and forefinger, and gently retract. Don't squish!

This may sound simple but it's a challenging procedure. I've developed a technique that I'll presumptuously call the Exmoor 2023 Technique. Indeed, check out this video wherein I demonstrate it.

I'm glad I have a spare plastic baggie in my small backpack. Did I mention that I have something in mind?

Now it's back to Rockford.

Closer to the hamlet, I pass by sections of the river I often fish.

Now, I've no cooking skills, but I want to bake the apples, use the berries, and...well, let's say an unconventional ingredient within (I don't have brown sugar), one I bought at Hall Farm.

I think the result could be offered at a Michelin three-star eatery. I say it looks as delicious as I confirm it tasted. A concoction indeed!

Oh, just kidding in the video...