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July is high summer. The days are long and warm, the hedgerows are heavy with ripening fruit, and the moorlands are carpeted with bilberries. This is the month when foraging feels effortless—when you can wander the countryside and come home with baskets full of berries, coastal greens, and fragrant flowers.
The waiting is over. The abundance has arrived. And for foragers, July offers some of the most rewarding finds of the year—tiny, intensely flavoured bilberries from the uplands, the first early blackberries from sun-drenched hedgerows, and the last of the coastal samphire before it becomes too woody.
This is peak summer foraging. The countryside is generous, the weather is warm, and everywhere you look there's something ripe and ready. So grab your basket and let's see what July has to offer.
What to Forage in July
1. Bilberries / Blaeberries (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Where to find them: Upland areas, moorland, heathland, acidic soil. Common in Scotland, Wales, the Lake District, the Peak District, and northern England.
How to identify them: Small, dark blue-black berries (similar to blueberries but smaller and darker) growing on low shrubs (20-60cm tall). The berries have a distinctive five-pointed crown on the bottom. The leaves are small, oval, and bright green.
Why July is perfect: Bilberries are at their peak in July and August. They ripen in waves, so you can return to the same patch multiple times.
Why they're brilliant: Bilberries are one of the UK's finest wild fruits. They're sweet, slightly tart, intensely flavoured, and packed with antioxidants. They taste like a cross between blueberries and blackcurrants—but better. And because they're hard to cultivate commercially, they're a true wild delicacy.
What to make: Eat them fresh (they're delicious straight from the bush), make bilberry pie or crumble, bilberry jam, bilberry muffins, add to pancakes, or freeze for winter baking.
Foraging tip: Bilberries stain everything purple—your hands, your clothes, your basket. Wear old clothes and bring a container with a lid. A small, sturdy basket like The Hedgerow Berry Picking Basket
How to pick: Gently roll the berry between your fingers. If it's ripe, it'll come away easily. If you have to tug, it's not ready. Be patient—bilberries are small, and it takes time to fill a basket. But the flavour is worth every minute.
Respect the moorland: Bilberries grow in fragile upland ecosystems. Tread lightly, stick to paths where possible, and leave plenty for wildlife (grouse, deer, and other animals rely on bilberries for food).
2. Early Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus)
Where to find them: Hedgerows, woodland edges, waste ground, scrubland.
How to identify them: You already know what blackberries look like—clusters of dark purple-black berries growing on thorny brambles. In July, you'll find the first early ripeners, especially in sunny, south-facing spots.
Why July is early: Most blackberries ripen in August and September, but if we've had a warm summer, you'll find early berries in late July. Look for sun-drenched hedgerows and sheltered spots.
Why they're brilliant: Blackberries are the gateway fruit for foragers—easy to identify, abundant, and absolutely delicious. They're sweet, juicy, and versatile.
What to make: Eat them fresh, make blackberry crumble, blackberry jam, blackberry cordial, add to summer puddings, or freeze for later.
Foraging tip: Only pick berries that are fully black and glossy. If they're red or dull, they're not ripe yet. And avoid berries growing below knee height near dog-walking routes.
3. Samphire (Salicornia europaea) – Last Chance
Where to find it: Coastal salt marshes, mudflats, estuaries. Best foraged at low tide.
Why July is your last chance: Samphire is still available in July, but by the end of the month it starts to become woody and too salty. If you want tender, delicious samphire, pick it now.
What to make: Steam or blanch briefly (2-3 minutes), then serve with fish, add to salads, pickle in vinegar, or eat with melted butter.
Foraging tip: Only take the top 5-10cm of each stem—the tender tips. The lower stems are too woody. Rinse thoroughly in fresh water before using.
4. Sea Beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima)
Where to find it: Coastal areas, shingle beaches, clifftops, salt marshes.
Why July is good: Sea beet is available almost year-round, but the summer growth is particularly tender and flavourful.
What to make: Use like spinach—wilt into pasta, add to soups, make spanakopita, or sauté with garlic and olive oil.
Foraging tip: Pick the younger, smaller leaves—they're more tender. Older leaves can be tough and very salty.
5. Wild Roses (Rosa canina and others)
Where to find them: Hedgerows, woodland edges, scrubland.
Why July is good: Wild roses are still flowering in July, and you can also start to see the first green rosehips forming (though they won't be ripe until autumn).
What to make: Rose petal syrup, rose petal jam, rose water, crystallized rose petals, or infuse in vinegar or honey.
Foraging tip: Pick petals in the morning after the dew has dried. The darker pink petals usually have more flavour than pale ones.
6. Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
Where to find it: Damp meadows, riverbanks, ditches, wet woodland.
Why July is good: Meadowsweet is still flowering in July, though it's past its peak. The flowers smell strongly of almonds and honey.
What to make: Meadowsweet cordial, meadowsweet ice cream, infuse in cream or milk for desserts, or make meadowsweet tea.
Foraging tip: Pick the flowers when they're freshly opened and smell their strongest.
7. Lime Flowers (Tilia species)
Where to find them: Parks, streets, woodland. Lime trees are common in urban areas.
Why July is perfect: Lime flowers bloom in late June and early July. By mid-July, they're starting to fade, so pick them early in the month.
What to make: Lime flower tea (the classic), infuse in honey or syrup, or add to bathwater for a relaxing soak.
Foraging tip: Pick flowers when they're freshly opened and smell their strongest. Dry them on a tray in a warm, airy place, then store in an airtight jar.
8. Wild Strawberries (Fragaria vesca)
Where to find them: Woodland clearings, grassy banks, hedgerows.
Why July is good: Wild strawberries are still fruiting in July, though they're past their peak. You'll find them in shaded spots where they've been protected from the heat.
What to make: Eat them fresh, add to summer puddings, or scatter over ice cream.
Foraging tip: They're getting scarcer now, so treasure every one you find.
9. Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Where to find it: Meadows, grassland, woodland edges, hedgerows.
Why July is okay: Sorrel is flowering in July, which makes the leaves tougher and more acidic. But you can still find tender young leaves if you look carefully.
What to make: Sorrel soup, add to salads (sparingly), or wilt into omelettes.
Foraging tip: Pick the youngest leaves you can find, and avoid plants that have gone to seed.
10. Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Where to find it: Gardens, waste ground, cultivated soil, woodland edges. Look for it in shaded, damp spots.
Why July is challenging: Chickweed prefers cooler weather and can struggle in the July heat. But you'll still find it in shaded areas.
What to make: Add to salads, blend into smoothies, make chickweed pesto.
Foraging tip: Snip the top few inches with scissors—it'll regrow quickly.
Upland Foraging in July: Bilberry Picking
July is the month to head to the hills. Bilberries (also called blaeberries, whortleberries, or whinberries depending on where you are in the UK) are one of our finest wild fruits, and they're at their peak in July and August.
Where to go:
- Scotland: Cairngorms, Highlands, Southern Uplands
- Wales: Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons, Cambrian Mountains
- England: Lake District, Peak District, North York Moors, Dartmoor
What to bring:
A small, sturdy basket
Bilberry picking involves a lot of walking—often on rough, upland terrain. You need a basket that's easy to carry and won't get in the way. The Hedgerow Berry Picking Basket is ideal for upland foraging—it's lightweight, compact, and the fixed handle means you can hook it over your arm while you pick.
Waterproof boots
Moorland can be boggy, even in summer.
Layers
Upland weather is unpredictable. Bring a waterproof jacket even if it looks sunny.
Sun protection
There's little shade on the moors—bring a hat and sunscreen.
Water and snacks
Bilberry picking is slow work. You'll be out for a while.
A map or GPS
Moorland can be disorientating. Know where you are and how to get back.
Respect the land:
Many upland areas are protected habitats or grouse moors. Stick to paths where possible, close gates, and leave no trace.
Coastal Foraging in July
July is one of the last good months for coastal foraging before samphire becomes too woody. If you want to gather sea vegetables, do it now.
What to bring for coastal foraging:
A sturdy basket or trug
Coastal foraging can be messy—you'll be dealing with salt water, sand, and mudflats. A basket that can be rinsed clean is ideal. The Highgrove Garden Trug is perfect for coastal trips—its oval shape holds a good quantity of samphire or sea beet, and the willow can be wiped clean after a day by the sea.
Wellies or waterproof boots
Mudflats are slippery and wet.
A tide timetable
Always check tide times before heading out. You want to forage at low tide, and you need to know when the tide will turn.
A bag for wet finds
Samphire and sea beet will be damp from the sea—bring a separate bag so they don't make everything else wet.
Sun protection
Coastal areas have little shade—bring a hat and sunscreen.
What You'll Need for July Foraging
A Small Basket for Upland Berries
Bilberries need a gentle touch and a basket that's easy to carry on long upland walks. The Hedgerow Berry Picking Basket
A Larger Basket for Coastal Foraging
Samphire, sea beet, and coastal greens need more space and a basket that can handle salt water. The Highgrove Garden Trug
Scissors or Secateurs
For cleanly cutting stems and herb sprigs.
A Foraging Guide
Even in July, when plants are easier to identify, it's always good to have a field guide for reference.
Sun Protection
July can be gloriously sunny—bring a hat and sunscreen.
Water Bottle
Stay hydrated, especially if you're out for a few hours on the moors or coast.
Recipe: Bilberry Crumble
A classic summer dessert that celebrates the best of upland foraging.
Ingredients:
For the filling:
- 500g bilberries (or as many as you can gather!)
- 100g caster sugar
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- Zest of 1 lemon
For the crumble:
- 200g plain flour
- 100g cold butter (cubed)
- 100g demerara sugar
- 50g rolled oats (optional, for extra texture)
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
- Mix the bilberries, caster sugar, cornflour, and lemon zest in a baking dish.
- Make the crumble: rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and oats.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping over the bilberries.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden and the fruit is bubbling.
- Serve warm with custard, cream, or vanilla ice cream.
The result: Sweet, tart, and deeply satisfying. The bilberries have an intense, complex flavour that makes this crumble taste like summer in the hills.
The Joy of July Foraging
July foraging feels like the reward for all the patience of spring. This is the month when the hedgerows finally deliver on their promise—when you can fill your basket with berries, when the moorlands offer up their purple treasures, when the coastal paths are lined with the last of the samphire.
There's a generosity to July that's hard to describe. The days are long, the weather is warm, and everywhere you look there's something ripe and ready. You can spend a morning picking bilberries on the moors, an afternoon gathering blackberries from the hedgerows, and still have time for a coastal walk to collect samphire in the evening.
And perhaps most of all, July reminds us that the best things are often found in the wildest places. Bilberries grow on windswept moors where the air is clean and the views stretch for miles. Samphire grows on mudflats where the tide comes and goes twice a day. These aren't things you can buy in a supermarket—they're gifts from the land, waiting for those willing to seek them out.
So this July, take a walk. Head to the hills for bilberries. Wander the hedgerows for early blackberries. Walk the coastal paths at low tide. And see what the high summer countryside has to offer.
Next month: What to Forage in August: Blackberries & Late Summer Finds (coming 1 August 2026)
Last month: What to Forage in June: Wild Strawberries & Summer Greens
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes. Always be 100% certain of plant identification before consuming wild food. The Timeless Trading Co. is not responsible for misidentification or adverse reactions. When in doubt, consult an expert forager or field guide.
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