In Sweden we always say that plenty of berries on the bushes (mainly Rowan but also other bushes) means a hard winter ahead, that was true for last year for sure. Any such superstitions here in the UK?

yep, certainly I (here in Dorset) have heard this in reference to holly. Would be interesting to keep a note and see how true it is!

Maybe it's from there being lots of fruit so having to store up now for a hard winter? I've never heard a direct superstition though, will ask my nan (they always know these things)!

Yeah, thats one I know, lots of berries mean a hard winter ahead.

also re blackberries - after october 1st you shouldn't pick em as they are for the witches (sometimes the Devil)

Kev

LOL I can pick them anyway then....

I always leave an amount of fruit on the bush for our small anima friends when I pick berries or soft fruit though.

We have an amazing amount of appes as well.

Yes, it's one I've heard since childhood. Don't know how true it is though.

As for fruit, I think the birds get more than we do. It's quite hilarious watching them trying to run/fly with a huge strawberry in front of their face

Sorry to get boring but;

The theory is - Several hard winters produce more fruit as a long term effect,
as annual weather conditions tend to follow cycles then the chances are that if the last several winters have been on a downward cycle temperature wise then the next one will follow suit to some degree. Of course the downward cycle will at some point end and that will affect the amount of fruit produced but with a delay of anything up to five years before this becomes noticable.

As I say; sorry to be boring.

By the way; has any-one seen birds and rabbits eating the fermented fruit etc thrown out during wine making, it's hilarious, I've seen Blackbirds and Magpies flopping around totally rat-arsed and rabitts just sit there swaying untill they fall over.

They seem to enjoy it though.

Oh goody something else for gov't to crack down on - binging drinking furry/feathered creatures.

Rabbits in my area already have ID Cards,
thats the bit you have to remember to remove before eating them.
Doesn't digest very well, why can't ID Cards be made out of Rice Paper.

Who knows all the Lore that goes with Blackthorn?

I remember my mum saying if theres a lot of berries around there would be a bad winter (she still does),but it all kinds of berries not a particular kind,
Live in Kent so maybe different areas have variants on this superstition.
Also remember seeing a wildlife rescue programme where they were called out to catch a drunken deer that had been eating fermenting apples.Poor thing was all over the place.

Morrigan

*considers using fermented fruit to bag a rabbit for the pot*

A new meaning to the dish 'jugged hare'

Kev

hehe.

Oooohhh, I couldn't eat hare!

hypocrite, aren't I. could eat bunny til the beef came home, but a hare! no no no!