Dronfield Eye issue 203 November 2022

dronfield EYE
Blackberries
Blackthorn
Elderberries
Autumn’s rich berry harvest
Animals and birds are gorging
themselves on berries right
now, fattening themselves up
in preparation for winter.
Prof Ian Rotherham explains
W
ITH our long, hot summer and
plenty of sunshine, this year has
undoubtedly been great for fruit and
berries. This is especially those
growing wild in hedgerows, along
woodland edges, and what we used to
call ‘waste ground’.
Common shrubs like brambles or
blackberries have been almost weighed
down with especially heavy fruit hanging on
every branch; a rich harvest for birds like
blackbirds and mammals such as wood mice.
By late summer, many animals and birds
are fattening up for the hardship of winter to
come. Rich pickings of fruit, berries, and nuts
in the countryside and gardens are
absolutely vital.
A number of readers have asked about the
lack of garden birds coming to feeders in
August through to October, but don’t worry,
this is entirely normal. During late summer
and into autumn things are in flux and having
bred, many garden birds gather in small
flocks to roam and forage in the local
countryside.
As nights get colder and the abundant
autumnal harvest has been consumed, at
least in part, the birds will return.
Some species have departed south for the
winter and warmer climates, soon to be
replaced by winter visiting migrants from the
north. The Arctic thrushes (redwings and
fieldfares) will soon be arriving, and finches
such as bramblings, redpolls, and siskins will
also be ranging across woods, park, hedges
and gardens.
The thrushes, including mistle thrush, song
thrush, and blackbirds, love the red berries
of hawthorn and rowan whereas the finches
36
Hawthorn
Rowan
and buntings feed on seeds of trees like
alder, birch and larch.
In the wildlife garden, planning ahead and
planting berry-bearing trees and shrubs
brings dividends of abundant free birdfood
to benefit the birds - and your pocket. What’s
more, some of these plants (honeysuckle for
instance) can be grown freely from cuttings
to provide fragrant blossoms throughout the
summer and then lots of autumn berries.
Other trees and shrubs are easily
propagated from berries, grown on, and then
planted out. St John’s worts (Hypericums) for
instance, can be pulled apart to provide root
cuttings that spread freely, and guelder rose
is another easy-to-grow shrub with gorgeous
berries.
For shorter-term results and quick birdfood,
then herbaceous plants like teasel are
great, and many flowering perennials like
garden knapweed are favourites with
goldfinches, greenfinches and titmice.
But don’t forget wild herbs that produce
winter berries, and these include the bright
red fruits of our wild arum lily, the cuckoo
flower or lords and ladies. This is easily
grown in gardens along with the more
spectacular Italian arum lily and has herbal
medical associations and rich folklore too.
With poisonous berries (at least to humans),
the plant is best left alone although the
toxins were once extracted and used to treat
a range of ailments.
The highly acrid berries are an irritant and
moreover cause swelling, burning, and
difficulty in breathing. Yet animals and birds
take them freely as a good source of food
and with no obvious signs of harm. The
berries are eaten and seeds dispersed along
hedgerows and woodland edge.
• Prof Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer,
broadcaster on wildlife and environmental
issues is contactable on
info@hallamec.plus.com ; follow his website
and blog: www.ukeconet.org
& ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/
& Twitter @IanThewildside