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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Council have cut all of the blackberries!

31 replies

martinsmoneysaver · 31/08/2022 19:57

It's the end of August, peak blackberry picking season. I've just gone to get some and they're all gone. The council have cut the brambles back more than a meter in some places. I'm absolutely gutted

I use them to make jam and freeze for porridge and stuff like that for the year. I make around 20 jars for myself and my family and it lasts the year. I always leave loads for others and wildlife but the council haven't. (we eat loads of jam and blackberries because they are free!)

They did this a few years ago and I didn't get any at all. I'm so grateful that I've already been and got some in the freezer but I don't have nearly as many as I would usually. Plus this year I was going to make extra as Christmas gifts. I won't be able to do that either.

I know it isn't the end of the world but with everything going up I was planning in getting way more than usual to cut back on the cost of fruit over the year.

OP posts:
HappyHamsters · 31/08/2022 20:00

Its the same where I live, I used to pick them for making pies and they are a good source for wildlife.

HelloThereObiWan · 31/08/2022 20:01

Oh that's a shame. It seems to be a good year for them. Can you drive out to some hedgerows to find some? We found loads yesterday in about an hour on some back lanes.

VestaTilley · 31/08/2022 20:03

YANBU. Unless they’re overhanging roads or paths they shouldn’t need to do this.

There are usually loads about that, can you go further afield?

I’d send an email to your councillors about it.

VestaTilley · 31/08/2022 20:03

*loads about, don’t know where “that” came from

girlfriend44 · 31/08/2022 20:03

Still finding plenty where I live.

Are the council having a tidy up ask them?
#loveblackberries

KatherineofGaunt · 31/08/2022 20:07

Our local council completely got rid of a while load of brambles last year. For no good reason that I can see - not blocking any path, not damaging anyone's property or anything. I was furious at the time. I keep meaning to go and plant a load of blackberries in the same place in the hope they'll grow back.

TheSummerPalace · 31/08/2022 20:08

Councils love to boast how “green” they - this is just another example of how it’s all for show! They don’t care about the environment at all!

Poor birds have struggled to find food, because of the drought this summer; and now another source of food has gone!

As a pp has said, email your county councillor!

Bebbanburg2507 · 31/08/2022 20:13

Complain and try and quote one of their eco policies or green initiatives to show how they are going against these. It's also a waste of funding to cut back bushes that don't need it.

Original poster
martinsmoneysaver · 31/08/2022 20:36

HelloThereObiWan · 31/08/2022 20:01

Oh that's a shame. It seems to be a good year for them. Can you drive out to some hedgerows to find some? We found loads yesterday in about an hour on some back lanes.

we don't drive unfortunately. I'm keeping a look out for what's poking out from people's gardens.

OP posts:
Original poster
martinsmoneysaver · 31/08/2022 20:43

There were on a path but there was loads of path left. Absolutely could have waited a month for them to finish. They weren't spread too far out.

They haven't got the resources to deal with flytipping but every inch of greenery has to be stripped.

They actually came out and roved a self seeded budlia from an unused car park that is completely over grown. There were hundreds of butterflies last year on it. My sister called up crying about it when she saw.
happily, a neighbour engaged in a solent protest and sowed loads of wildflower seeds that are just beautiful but I'm sure the council will rip those out too soon enough.

They cut the grass every 2 weeks in summer and leave the grass to brown. it's just so ugly and the Bees. oh They have ages to fly before they even have a chance of a flower. Why can't they leave strips?

OP posts:
Original poster
martinsmoneysaver · 31/08/2022 20:44

Bebbanburg2507 · 31/08/2022 20:13

Complain and try and quote one of their eco policies or green initiatives to show how they are going against these. It's also a waste of funding to cut back bushes that don't need it.

Great idea!

OP posts:
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 31/08/2022 20:48

Do you have any parks nearby, all the parks round here have loads of them, particularly in any wooded bits.

notacooldad · 31/08/2022 20:51

Poor birds have struggled to find food, because of the drought this summer; and now another source of food has gone!
For the birds around Op's area it sounds like their food source would have gone anyway by the time she filled her freezer, made jam , made gifts and fed her famy for a year!

Brainstorm22 · 31/08/2022 21:24

If these were on the road side I wouldn't be eating these anyway! Horrible..I'd never eat blackberries from road side.

swg1 · 31/08/2022 21:28

Brainstorm22 · 31/08/2022 21:24

If these were on the road side I wouldn't be eating these anyway! Horrible..I'd never eat blackberries from road side.

There have actually been tests on exhaust fumes around fruit bushes and mostly they're just fine even on busy roads. Give them a good wash and nothing wrong with them.

LuckyLil · 31/08/2022 21:30

There must be places you can still find them growing somewhere? We get them absolutely everywhere. Even if they were cut back there would still be loads to pick. Get a bus to a river or woodland and you will find some to pick.

Atmywitsend29 · 31/08/2022 21:32

Tbf, where I live the blackberries came early due to the heat. I went last week and they're all dried and/or rotten!

Longdistance · 31/08/2022 21:35

What a waste. They’re free and could come in handy for those who don’t have much.
I’ve seen bushes full of them today.

Tumbleweed101 · 31/08/2022 21:40

That's a shame, there is a good crop this year due to the hot summer. I'm lucky in that I have plenty in my garden and along the local lanes but I used to rely on ones in public areas before I lived here so can understand the frustration.

FictionalCharacter · 31/08/2022 21:49

TheSummerPalace · 31/08/2022 20:08

Councils love to boast how “green” they - this is just another example of how it’s all for show! They don’t care about the environment at all!

Poor birds have struggled to find food, because of the drought this summer; and now another source of food has gone!

As a pp has said, email your county councillor!

Absolutely. Ours is awful and do a regular brutal slashing of all plant life. They cut hedges when they’re not supposed to because of nesting birds. They slashed some of the wild patches (including blackberries) to the ground earlier in the year. They cut verges very short all year round. Weeds on any rough ground or paths are strimmed or sprayed to death. No Mow May didn’t even last the whole of May - the little green areas on the housing estates looked lovely with wild flowers, then they came along and chopped them all off.

I suppose I could try writing to the council, but I’ve never had any positive results from doing that in the past.

MarianneVos · 31/08/2022 21:51

You need to go round the garden of that other Mumsnetter.

dockspider · 31/08/2022 21:52

Oh no, what a shame. I pick daily at the moment and was thinking about what an excellent source of free fruit they are.

Delectable · 31/08/2022 22:01

Someome complained about same in Buckinghamshire around Prestwood.

girlfriend44 · 31/08/2022 22:03

Brainstorm22 · 31/08/2022 21:24

If these were on the road side I wouldn't be eating these anyway! Horrible..I'd never eat blackberries from road side.

Why not
They are washed
I've had some and not been.ill.or anything?

DustinsHat · 31/08/2022 22:07

MarianneVos · 31/08/2022 21:51

You need to go round the garden of that other Mumsnetter.

I can't stop laughing at this Grin

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