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Isn’t it amazing that these little beauties started life as tiny seeds? Every crisp leaf is a reminder of just how incredible nature is. With a splash of sunshine and some water, something so small can become something so abundant.

The St James’ Way is an ancient pilgrimage route which runs from Reading Abbey to the port of Southampton. It forms part of a network of routes leading to the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela in North West Spain.

Early in the middle ages pilgrims travelled the route for pious or penitential reasons, on behalf of others or to find enlightenment.

Although the route has religious roots, I did it for spiritual reasons – to fill my soul and take a step on the road to fulfilling one of my dreams -to walk the Camino de Santiago.

I struggled a bit on the last day with an ongoing ankle problem and some rather vicious brambles – but perseverance saw me through.

They’re loaded with vitamin C, antioxidants, and polyphenols — tiny powerhouses hiding in the hedgerows.

Historically they were used by the Romans and Native Americans as medicine and dyes; by Anglo‑Saxons in Lughnasadh pies: by Europeans as natural thorny hedging; and by the Greeks as gout remedies.

In WWI, children even got time off school to pick them to make jam for the soldiers.

And today… I’m making jam myself using this recipe:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/blackberry_jam_47084

Sources: Garden KnowHow; The Garden History Blog

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