Possibly not enough sun to ripen them, we've got brambles looking like that up here.

Never seen sprays like htat - they are rather pretty aren't they?

Yes, it was quite pretty and surprising. It was right on an east facing coast so should have got plenty of sun.

Are you sure they're not raspberries?

Definitely not raspberries.

Agree definitely brambles the ones near us got frosted yesterday so that's it.

not enough light/heat to ripen them . they need a minimum number of daylight hours as well as intensity of light to ripen.

Seaburngirl. But that's what I don't understand. This was an open east-facing beach in NE Scotland where the days are longer.

This fruit must have formed late, for some reason. I think I'll have to put it down to 'who knows?'.

Its possible these are the result of a second flowering, so they started forming later... this year's been so mild, growth began very early, around mid to late February for most things, which has meant longer and bigger cropping. Unfortunately, this lot's been caught out, or deceived, by the weather and the days are now not long enough nor the sun strong enough to ripen them off. A weird year - strawberries still in the shops because its not been cold... and they're good to eat too!

It may also be one of the ornamental bramble species.

No they are growing in the wild.

Light levels aren't just confined to the number of hours but also to the quality of light. Light includes wavelengths of red light and far red light. Some plants need triggers of red light and far red light. Chrysanths need far red light to be able to initiate flowering and that's why in nature they flower in late summer for us in the uk, as that is when there is the most far red light. I know some fruit initiation is also reliant on this balance of red and far red light. So as it is late in the year the balance between red and far red is 'wrong' for the fruits to ripen.

hope that makes sense :o)

Thanks all,

I think Bamboo may be right. Certainly the blackberries were early this year so that may have left time for a second crop with these plants.