Already? Goodness. Some here are beginning to turn red and I thought that was pretty early!

I noticed lots on the trackside when I was travelling up to Liverpool today on the train. Some of them were already turning black. I think you are right, Hank - it must be the warm, sunny weather.

The wild ones along our lane are good and ripe, but our cultivated ones are not even close.

It's been in all the papers... Bumper crop of early Blackberries due to the warm weather. It's the same for all soft fruits and British strawberry farmers are saying it's a good year for them, they have been having a great harvest due to the exceptional weather.

The good news for us as the end consumer of British blackberries and strawberries, is that the amount of fruits available keeps the price down, and I do think that homegrown strawberries taste far better than imported fruits.

your right hank. same here in ireland