Blackthorn
Picture of Blackthorn +Sloe, 
	© Mike Draycott

Blackthorn - Prunus spinosa .
Fruit time - August - October.
Blossom - March - April.

The fruit, shown above is called a Sloe, and is like a small plum, but has a bitter taste. However the fruits are used to make jam, and the drink Sloe gin.

This is one of the first shrubs to flower in the spring, the white flowers being one of the first signs of spring.

blackthorn blossom

It is not called the Blackthorn for nothing, so beware of the thorns, which make it suitable to make stock proof hedges.

As well as occuring in the Reserve, many of the hedges around the village fields have Blackthorn in them.


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