Word on the grapevine (ok my mum-in-law) is that sloes are falling off the branches already due to the heatwave earlier in the year - they normally don't get ripe until october or early november.

Being new to these parts (south of the city) I hope that someone can tell me where I can go to pick some - oh and they have to be at least a few yards away from busy roads.

Many thanks if you can help - or would like to come along and pick some with us.

A bottle of the resulting sloe gin to the person who can put us onto the best place!

If you've never tried sloe gin - it's fantastic - it doesn't taste of gin - a bit like vimto for grown-ups.

Sorry to say this but i think u will find that anyone that knows where they are around here keep it a closely guarded secret as there are not many places.

Good luck.

And yes it is lovely, nice to have on bonfire night and at Xmas.

Sloes !???

Originally posted by JamieW
Sloes !???

I was just thinking the same!!

Sloes?

Thought the same earlier and did a search on Google.
It hinted as to where you might find them also Dadda ;)

Hi,
I live on the border of woodhouse/hackenthorpe bottom of coisley hill near the mosborough parkway and we have dozens of blackthorn trees overflowing with fruit and no-one round here bothers with them we also have hazels in abundance too.

Thanks playman!! I'll check it out next weekend.

For anybod who wants to know about the sloe -
check out http://www.sloe.biz/

Originally posted by JamieW
Sloes !???

I thought it was a typing error, and he really wanted to know where to buy new footware...

Yeah ... me too ... thought it was a typo ...

I originally replied with a witty suggestion that he try looking on peoples feet !! ... before realising he was not looking for shoes ...

Doh ...

ok - a bottle of shoe gin to the person who can direct me to the best shoe shop in town!!

i dont know about sloes but conkers are falling off trees early this year arent they.

A friend of mine's Dad has a farm up top of Norton / Ridgeway area. They have Sloe trees all over the place. They made sloe gin every year.

well at least sheffield has one advantage to florida - sloe gin :lol:

Originally posted by Funke88
They have Sloe trees all over the place. .

:lol: They have BLACKTHORN all over the place (Prunus spinosa). Sorry, the idea of a Sloe Tree just tickled my fancy...tho I guess there's no reason you shouldn't call 'em that:D

Be careful, all you sloe-pickers out there, the thorns of blackthorn are huge and are usually coated in a rather nasty slime that causes cuts (specially punctures) to become infected easily.
Great for keeping burglars away from your window too...

Hey, I never said that I actually picked them myself. Apparantly the bush grows to about 14 feet high:- Sounds like a tree to me. Whatever!:P