It seems that the never-ending winter and unfeasibly cold spring earlier in the year may have actually proved a blessing for our beleaguered fruiting trees and bushes.

Autumn is now expected to be late and, according to the Woodland Trust which monitors the changing seasons through its Nature’s Calendar project, when it does finally arrive, it’s predicted to produce a berry bonanza. Hedgerows, woodland edges, parks and gardens should be laden down with plump clusters of blackberries, sloes, elder berries and sweet chestnuts.

Once you know what to look for, you’ll see foodstuff everywhere.

And, if a long country ramble doesn’t suit, even a short forage can reap rewards.

Here in Dorset our diverse geography, from acidic soil to chalky downs, is ideal for various trees, shrubs, bushes and herbs groaning with nuts and fruits at this time of year.

So armed with a stick, a basket and some long trousers (essential!) a friend and I followed a picturesque route in West Dorset, once the site of a railway line.

Before you start foraging in earnest, however, there are a few things to bear in mind.

A spokesman from the Dorset Wildlife Trust advised that it’s OK to pick ‘the four Fs’.

“That’s fruit, foliage, fungi and flowers – provided they’re growing wild, are for personal use, you don’t intend to sell them and the plant isn’t a protected species.”

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it’s unlawful to uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier, and the country code should be followed, too. It makes common sense to be quiet and respectful, put the environment first, close gates and don’t leave anything behind.

“Birds rely on berries to get them through the winter, so only pick what you need, and don’t take all berries from one plant,” said Nature's Calendar project manager Dr Kate Lewthwaite.

Not that some plants go short. Only a few yards along our chosen path we saw an elder with what seemed like more berries than leaves.

The bunches, some bigger than your hand, were easily picked complete, and the gorgeous deep bluey-purple beads can be turned into cordial, ice-cream or jelly, as well as wine and port.

Another beautiful blue berry nearby was the sloe, the fruit of the blackthorn bush, commonly found in hedgerows. Probably the most common use for these little gems is sloe gin, but be very careful when picking as the thorns can be very painful.

Old books say pick after the first frost, but it’s rare to get a frosty day in autumn now.

Frost breaks the skin, so the juice comes out more easily. You can prick the berries with a fork before bottling, or country folk swear by using one of the large blackthorns.

However, a few days in the freezer is just as good… and less time consuming.

A similar fruit is the bullace, which can be treated as a sloe, although the berries are larger.

I didn’t see any bullace, although they are found in Dorset – so too are damsons, like small plums.

“Oh look, this is wild marjoram,” said my friend, pointing to a herb with clusters of delicate pink flowers.

It’s a member of the mint family but its Latin name is origanum vulgae.

Indeed, it had a lovely scent reminiscent of Italian cooking, and we popped a couple of stalks in the trug.

We also gathered hawthorn berries, long used to help heart and circulatory problems, but also for a delicious sauce for game.

The rose hips we passed were also nice and fat, and almost ripe enough to make a lovely soothing syrup for sore throats.

In a matter of minutes, we also had some hazelnuts in our basket (for recipe inspiration, go to hazelnutcouncil.org).

I was particularly keen to find a guelder rose, also known as a water elder or European cranberry bush. The stunning berries make a delicious jelly – but beware as they can be confused with the often-poisonous berries of the wayfaring tree.

“It’s important to identify something before picking,” say the Dorset Wildlife Trust. “When in doubt, leave it on the bush or tree.

“Don’t pick it and then take it home to find out what it is, as the chances are it’s inedible.”

Perhaps coming into their own in September are the many varieties of crab apple, widespread across the British Isles. You can’t eat them raw but they make an excellent and versatile jelly that goes really well with certain meats, or can be enjoyed simply on toast… or a piece of good Cheddar.

Nature’s Calendar project manager Dr Kate Lewthwaite explains: “Autumn fruiting dates vary considerably from year to year as they are affected by temperature and rainfall. If last month’s warm weather interspersed with occasional wet spells continues, the fruiting of autumn shrubs should be abundant.

“The relatively late flowering may have helped avoid any frost damage to flowers, and thus help fruiting. With July 2013 being the third warmest since 1910 and August temperatures being about average with a fair amount of rainfall, we predict a good fruiting crop this autumn.”

  • naturescalendar.org.uk gives you ideas on where to find autumn’s berry harvest