Ah, blackthorn. One of the many delights of the Great British Hedgerow, and a beautifully versatile plant that we’re lucky to have growing in-and-around Oldstead.

What is blackthorn?

Prunus spinosa – known as blackthorn to us – is a species of flowering plant native to Europe. Surprisingly, you might already be familiar with blackthorn, since its branches bare the home to sloe berries in the autumn – producing an incredibly fruity seasonal tipple once combined with gin.

What’s lesser-known about prunus spinosa is its springtime counterpart, blackthorn blossom. Right now in Oldstead, there’s a spectacular showcase of delicate white flowers along the borders of our fields, with our production team preserving their almond-like flavour into sugar syrups for future use in cocktails, or perhaps on the menus of our Michelin-starred restaurants.

How to identify and forage blackthorn blossom

Blackthorn is actually relatively common in the UK, and if you live in the countryside, its likely that you’re close-by to a good foraging spot already. The Woodland Trust has an excellent guide on how to identify blackthorn blossom, as well as how to forage responsibly, too.