and a mournful blackthorn bead’. A branched shrub of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) is a valuable medicinal plant. Its harvest season usually falls in late August, September and October.

Sloes are the fruit of the blackthorn plant - a shrub with long sharp thorns which is traditionally used in Britain to make cattle-proof hedges. Centuries ago the berries were reputed to have ...