Stoneyford Heritage Meats

I’m so excited to share a little project I’ve been quietly working on this spring—my brand-new Wild-Berry Garden! This small patch of the garden is now home to strawberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, thornless blackberries, raspberries, and a little underplanting of wild garlic. The idea is to create a vibrant, multi-purpose space that’s as beautiful as it is bountiful.

Why wild garlic, you ask? Aside from loving the smell and flavour, I’ve added it as a natural pest deterrent. Slugs and snails have been having far too much fun with my strawberries in the past, so I’m hoping the garlic’s strong scent will put them off this year. Fingers crossed!

What’s Next?

I’d love to add either cranberries or gooseberries to the mix—maybe both if I can find the space. Cranberries appeal to me for their festive feel and potential in Christmas recipes, while gooseberries bring back memories of tart crumbles and jams from my childhood. I might be able to tuck a gooseberry bush elsewhere in the garden if I can’t squeeze it into the berry patch. What do you think—cranberries or gooseberries? Or should I make room for both? Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram!

Looking Ahead: First Harvest & Plans

Most of the plants are young, so I’m not expecting huge harvests in the first year—but with a bit of luck and some sunshine, we might see our first strawberries and raspberries by early summer, followed by blueberries and blackcurrants later in the season. The blackberries may take a little longer to really get going, but they’re one of the most rewarding once they do.

My plans for the fruit are simple but delicious:

Fresh eating straight from the garden (if I can beat the dogs to them!)

Homemade jams and compotes

A summer berry pie or galette using whatever’s ripe

Frozen berry bags for smoothies, porridge, or winter baking

Fermented berry sodas (once I get a good batch going in my Kilner jars!)

And maybe even a blackcurrant cordial or wild berry vinegar


I also hope to experiment with vacuum sealing and freezing surplus berries for easy storage without losing flavour. And of course, there’ll be a few jars of jam set aside for Christmas hampers!