6th November 2025

Lots of these bright red berries around at the moment, in the churchyard and hedgerows. They are the fruits of Woody Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) also known as Bittersweet. As with Deadly Nightshade, a close relative, the berries are poisonous. It's a rambling plant, needing support to grow upwards but seems to thrive in rough grassland as well. The berries certainly add a colourful splash to November but they will soon be foraged by thrushes and blackbirds.

Bittersweet