Blackthorn blossoms early in the year and there used to be an old country custom that if the weather was cold as the blossom appeared then the next few weeks would be cold.

My diary shows me that this was the case in 1981 and 2010 was another blackthorn winter. I have long believed that one of the best ways to understand our fascinating countryside is to find a country person over 80 and talk to them. They are long time students of the university of life.

With blackthorn, unlike hawthorn which is also know as the whitethorn the blossom occurs before the leaves. Once the blackthorn blossom has faded the fruits which are called sloes begining to develop and are coming in our hedgerows.

Sloes are black and look at first as if they have been dusted with powder. Later they become shiny but at all times they are far too bitter to eat even if they do look like small plums. They do, however, contain some sugar and are steeped in brandy and especially gin to produce the very potent sloe gin.

Country folk used sloe juice to produce ink which did not wash out and was used in laundries to keep customers clothes numbered.