Foraging for blackberries? You can, but pay attention to this
Now that we’re slowly heading toward the end of summer (although you wouldn’t know it from these thirty-degree temperatures), many people are already rubbing their hands in anticipation of blackberry season! At the end of summer and beginning of autumn, these beautiful little fruits grow abundantly in the wild on bushes. But before you think you can make truly unlimited amounts of blackberry cake, you should read this first.
As fun as it is to head into the woods Little Red Riding Hood-style with a large wicker basket to forage, the same rule applies here: enjoy, but in moderation. It is strictly forbidden to pick an amount of blackberries (and, for example, mushrooms) that exceeds the capacity of a standard mushroom carton…
Blackberry bandits
Staatsbosbeheer writes on its own website that, as a guideline, foraging 250 grams of blackberries and mushrooms is permitted. If you are caught with more than that, Staatsbosbeheer may consider it commercial- or large-scale foraging and classify it as theft and/or damage to its land, which could certainly earn you a fine.
Stomach ache? Your own fault
Aside from that, eating fruit you have picked yourself from nature is naturally entirely at your own risk, and it is extremely important that people realize that foraging also takes food away from animals. In addition, if all specimens of one species are picked, that plant species may disappear locally. And of course, nobody wants that…
Everything under control
So if you decide to head out later with your empty mushroom carton, make sure you follow Staatsbosbeheer’s guidelines regarding foraging. You can read them all here. Municipalities may also have different rules from one another. But otherwise: happy picking!
Also read:
- Recipe: Vanilla pancakes with blackberries
- How to make a divine meringue cake with apple, cinnamon and blackberries
- According to this chef, we cook mushrooms completely wrong – and he shows us how to do it properly
