The Elders are just beginning to come into flower, their Pungent aroma filling the evening air, the hedgerows and the woodland fringes. Such a versatile plant, Elder (Sambucus nigra) is a valued deciduous shrub and like so many much neglected today; the flowers are used to flavour teas, cordials and wine, you can also fry them in batter, whilst their berries* can be used for jam and wine. Various parts of the tree have been used in traditional herbal remedies for colds, coughs, respiratory infections and fevers. I must get some yeast and make a demijohn of wine this season.
* It's been suggested that the berries can be mildly poisonous when unripe.
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