Hedgerow Hops
Long and climbing, this perennial has leaves that are serrated like a stinging nettle and a green cone-shaped flower.
They are commonly found in hedgerows in the South and South East of England and very uncommon in my home area of North Wales. Despite the rarity in the area, it's almost a family tradition to harvest these flowers. The reason being many generations of my family would work in the hope fields of Kent collecting these flowers by hand to be dried and used by breweries.
I managed pick a few flowers , not enough to do anything with but enough to get an idea of what the plant looked, felt and smelt like. I made a note in my fave foraging book, which is full of secret harvest places and vowed to come back next year!
Hops is best known for its beer making and if I ever find enough for drying the flowers out and keeping them for a tradition hedgerow brew and I will toast to generations of hard-working men and woman who collected this year after year!
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