No, not the next Indiana Jones epic but a sight for sore eyes in our back hedge. I was reading this blog a few days ago, amazed at the idea of elderflowers being picked for cordial – already! Then I remembered the author lives in Italy. They must be way further ahead than us. But what did I see tonight en route to the compost? These little beauties winking at me! Elderflowers were the first thing that I harvested from the hedgerow last year and therein started a new addiction. Elderberries followed, then sloes, bullaces, rosehips, blackberries. I was smitten. How quickly the season has come round again and I’m excited about planning the list of hedgerow treats for this year, a year older but a year wiser:

Elderflowers: – will pass on the champagne this year. Mine was flat as a pancake, my neighbours fizzy enough to power the village for a year. But the cordial – yum. Will make as much as poss and freeze for year round supply. I thought getting citric acid sounded a hassle last year so found a recipe without it in. Mistake. My neighbour made some with the citric and it definitely helped cut through the otherwise cloying sweetness. So citric acid it is this year, despite my neighbour saying the pharmacist gave her a look when she bought it, apparently it’s a good substance to cut recreational drugs with.

Elderberries: I made some “Elderberry Rob” last year – it’s a traditional spiced fruit syrup recipe for coughs or to ward off colds and flu, and to aid sleep. Elderberries are reputed to contain nine magic ingredients. Well it certainly worked for us, we took it daily until it ran out and when it was all gone, we were all ill for the rest of the winter. I’m making several vatfuls this year. Especially keen since my sister recommended a similar elderberry tonic from the healthfood shop that sells for £12 a bottle!

Just cover elderberries which are washed and stripped from the stalks with water, and simmer with a lid for half- an-hour. Strain and measure the liquid, pour back in the saucepan and for each pint or 570ml of liquid add:
225g or 8oz sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
12 cloves

Simmer covered for-half- an-hour, then pour into sterilised bottles and drink diluted with warm water (or swig straight from bottle if you’re like me or feel a tickly throat coming!). Apparently also nice warm over ice-cream.