A FORAGER’S GUIDE
Fruiting from July but at their best in August and September, bilberries are found on heaths and moors and in woodlands with acid soil (conifers are a good indicator). They are more common in the north of England and Scotland but also grow in the West Country, particularly Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.
The bilberry is known by many charming names around the UK, such as blaeberry (blae is a northern England and Scottish word for blue), bog bilberry, whortleberry and whinberry (because it grows among whins, a Scottish name for gorse).
In Ireland they are known as whortleberry and fraughan. Here, Lammas Sunday is also known as Bilberry Sunday (the last Sunday in July). It marks the beginning of the harvest and festivities take place with local girls making a cake laden with bilberries to give to their intended.