Record breaking year for Manx wild fruits. isleofman.com Life & Style

THE Isle of Man is having one of its best ever years for wild fruit, with record crops of plums, damsons, blackberries and apples to be found all over the Island.

The cold winter and a warm spring and early summer have combined to provide perfect growing conditions and the spring weather, in particular, made a huge difference to the blossoming period which has resulted in 2010 being a wonderful year for wild fruits.

The early summer saw one of the best crops of wild blueberries in recent memory, and some plants on higher ground are, surprisingly, still producing fruit now (early September) although they are increasingly more difficult to find. Wild cherries were also abundant in late June and throughout July.

As September progresses, it becomes a bonanza for wild fruit in the Isle of Man. Blackberries are now in massive abundance and this year looks like being one of the best ever with many people spotted at the weekend collecting the little black jewels.

Hedgerows are laden with fruits as thoughts turn to blackberry crumble, pies, jams and preserves. See below for links to our various recipes.

Damsons are now fully ripe and can be found all over the Island, but especially in the north. Plums have ripened fast in the last fortnight and are ready for picking and there is also a very good crop of sloes, although these are not so easy to find and those “in the know” will usually carefully guard the exact location of their source.

It also looks like being a fantastic season for apples. Many varieties are ready to be picked now and in the next month or so it’s clear to see that most apple trees are heavily laden with fruit. If you have a tree with apples but don’t know what to do with them, then you can get free apple juice if you take them to The Apple Orphanage at Lynague on the west coast.

For every 3kgs of apples you provide, you will receive one free bottle of superb apple juice, made at the Apple Orphanage’s premises from “unwanted” apples which would otherwise be left to rot under the tree.

September is also a prime month for mushrooms. Field mushrooms can be found everywhere, but the Isle of Man has many more luxurious wild mushrooms; however - be warned - you need to know what you’re doing before trying anything new.

One of the best produce shows of the season takes place next month and will have a fantastic display of the Isle of Man’s wonderful fruits, vegetables, flowers, jams, wines, confectionery and a whole lot more including crafts, children’s classes and photography. The annual Kirk Andreas Produce Show takes place on October 14th in Kirk Andreas Parish Hall. Entries need to be in by October 9th. Programmes are now available.

Most exhibitors leave their products for the evening auction, with all the proceeds going to local charities.