Bramble

Rubus fruticosus

• A thorny trailing plant best known for its fruit, the blackberry.
• Often known as a weed. this plant has lots of uses in bushcraft. The long runners can be woven to make a basket. I’ve written a blog about how to do this here. They can also be twisted to make a rope. In the summer, the flexible inner ‘bark’ can be extracted and makes a strong and durable cordage.
• Blackberry leaf tea is said to help reduce a sore throat.
• There are more than 400 different micro-species of bramble in the UK alone.
• Folklore states that you shouldn’t eat the blackberries after Michaelmas – September 29th – as the devil spits on them.