Bella Mama raises money for Committed 2 Breastfeeding

Well, this last week has certainly flown past - we are busier than ever supplying fabulous nursing clothing to new mamas across the UK and abroad, so much so that I haven't had chance to update everyone on my 3 peaks challenge! 

On 1st May, myself and 16 other ladies set out to tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks - one of the most famous fitness challenges in the country - which involves a 26-mile walk across the peaks of the three highest points in Yorkshire. The trek travels across Pen-y-ghent (691m), Whernside (728m), and Ingleborough (723m), with the total climb approximating 5,200 feet across varying routes and paths.

My friend Hayley joined me, and we eased ourselves gently into the weekend by booking into the Devonshire Spa hotel - we indulged ourselves with spa treatments, relaxing in the pool and a fabulous meal in the hotel restaurant. Fast forward 24 hours, and we were booking into a spartan B&B just down the road from the famous 3 peaks, and an early night before our 5.00am start!! (that's me, there, on the far left of the pic - hellllooooooooooo!!)

Fingers crossed for a better day than forecast (heavy rain!) the day dawned bright and clear, if a little cold. The walk took us up Pen-y-Ghent first, and we strode quickly up up up, through the low clouds into the bright morning sunshine, scrambling up the rocky summit to some stunning views across the Yorkshire fells. Woo-hoo, 1 down, 2 to go!! 

Onwards down the other side of Pen-y-Ghent, and a long, long trek through the marshlands over towards the peak of Whernside. Had some lovely chats with the other girls taking part in the hike, and it was great to discover their backgrounds and the reasons that they were undertaking the walk. 

We snacked as we walked: nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, chocolate, crackers, cheese, fruit, cereal bars and lots and lots of water and lucozade sport!! Over stiles, through gates and across streams, down paths, through stony ground and marshy ground, over bridges, down farmtracks, and main roads on and on we went...

Up, up, up Whernside next - up the stone slabs all the way to the top - yay! Then just after we reached the trig point at the summit, suddenly the heavens opened and an absolute deluge of rain and hail hit us. Water dripped off our waterproof jackets, and having not packed any 100% waterproof trousers (oops) I was suddenly very, very cold and with rather wet legs and socks. 

Coming down Whernside, my sacro-iliac joint started to twinge and I was very wary of putting my back out again as I did in September. Nightmare. I picked my way carefully down the slippery stones and muddy path, hood and hands up against the hail, trying to avoid the trickling streams of water accompanying us down the slopes now, and made my way down to the meeting point at the bottom - I then decided that the pain in my hips meant I couldn't risk tackling Ingleborough and that I was very proud to have completed two peaks in one day. Hayley carried the Bella Mama hopes forwards, and went on to complete Ingleborough and the 3 peaks challenge!

This hike was easily the most challenging thing that I have done! I had some fabulous messages of support from my relatives, friends, Bella Mama's designers and customers alike - so thank you so much to everyone who has supported me in this. Hayley and I are planning a trip back this summer so I can do Ingleborough. I had a really fun day, I enjoyed the hike and the chance to see some of the loveliest parts of the UK whilst doing so.

Bella Mama will also be making a donation from each order until 15th May, and we are also offering a special 10% discount to use on the site from 30th April until 15th May - enter the code THREEPEAKS at checkout. In total will have raised over £600 for MedEquip4Kids,which will go to help support a lot of new breastfeeding mamas!

Kirsten
xx

Stylish Breastfeeding Lingerie now available at Bella Mama!

We are delighted to be stocking a selection of the beautiful Womama maternity and nursing lingerie. 

 

Womama create gorgeous lingerie for mothers-to-be and nursing mothers. But more than that, they design for women who want to look beautiful and feel confident. Femininity, grace and comfort are at the heart of their design ethos. They choose gorgeous fabrics that feel soft against the skin and wear well. Womama's flattering designs fit properly and provide optimum support  

Comfy, practical but sexy nursingwear is a must for new mamas! Our beautiful selection of glamorous nursing lingerie at Bella Mama are guaranteed to make you feel like a goddess. 

 The super chic and contemporary Daisy bra has just arrived with me today, and the bra sets have been listed online today. As a special launch offer, we are taking 25% off the list price for this weekend only. So if you fancy updating your nursing underwear, look no further!

* Beautiful contemporary leaf print, with organic cotton lining to the cups, this a full cup nursing bra, designed for Mothers who seek support and comfort with nursing functionality.

 

* Daisy is the bra that wears well under clothing and will make a great "every day" bra.

 

* With 6 rows of hooks and eyes, this bra works brilliantly at every stage through your pregnancy and whilst nursing as your shape changes

* Comfortable shoulder straps, and one handed nursing clips ensure this bra is great for everyday wear

New Breastfeeding Tops and Dresses - Ta Ta for Now

At Bella Mama, we are always on the lookout for the most stylish, beautiful breastfeeding clothing available for our customers in the UK. 

We are just delighted to be the first in the UK to offer the luxury new nursingwear designers Ta Ta for Now, the brand new San Francisco based nursingwear label for trendy breastfeeding mamas.

This range has been getting fabulous reviews since their launch, and we've had a great level of interest in their tops and dresses since adding them to our site.

Their gorgeous fashion forward range has been incredibly well received by nursing mamas in the USA, gaining glowing reviews from breastfeeding mothers from coast to coast! Ta Ta for Now range has been labelled "The Three Must haves for Breastfeeding Moms"!

Ta Ta For Now, design feminine, flattering, and practical clothes for breastfeeding moms. They design all of their pieces with fashion and function in mind. All of their fabric is cut to flatter the postpartum figure and is soft enough to cuddle up against newborn skin. Their stylish nursing wear features "secret access" openings so mamas can nurse discretely and comfortably. Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience and we want mums to look and feel their best as they nurse anywhere, anytime!

About Grace and Robyn, the designers behind Ta Ta For Now

Both Grace Chung and Robyn Delane have two children under the age of three and reside in the bay area of California. Currently, ta-ta for now's clothing line is manufactured in san francisco by other moms who have also experienced the joys and challenges of motherhood. in the future, the company hopes to expand its network to moms across the world, by sending manufacturing orders to groups of women in developing countries, where millions of moms struggle to feed and nurture their children due to lack of economic resources.

At Bella Mama, we just love Ta Ta for Now, for their gorgeous nursing clothing, their fabulous ethos and their commitment to supporting mums worldwide.

Ta Ta for Now, available now at Bella Mama in the UK www.BellaMama.co.uk

Bella Mama - Stylish Breastfeeding Tops

Bella Mama have been featured on parentdish -  this ultimate parenting online guide documents the trends, hits and anything of interest happening in the parenting world. They featured our beautiful Milkstars Jenny breastfeeding top, and Belabumbum's pretty Kimono nightdress.

*Yay*

Naturally, all of the tops we choose to stock at Bella Mama are frump-free, stylish and designed to make new mamas look fabulous! There is just no need for clothing to be mumsy, baggy or unflattering, just because you choose to breastfeed your baby and there are so many great options available for nursing mamas now. Breastfeeding mums can look cute in a simple tee-shirt and jeans, casual in a tunic and leggings, stylish in a wrap dress, elegant in a cowl necked top, cosy in a hoodie and yoga pants, and a million dollars in a  halter neck dress!

There's something for every body shape, sense of style and occasion. I am so happy that parentdish have chosen to mention Bella Mama on their site, and hope it helps spread the word that breastfeeding your little one is super stylish!

Stylish Nursingwear for Breastfeeding Mamas

So I have started my fitness regime for the Breast Foot Forward hike, I thought I would break myself in gently and this morning did the entire Cindy Crawford workout DVD. Amazingly I managed to get through it all, but discovered along the way I am hopelessly unco-ordinated when it comes to aerobic routines and much better suited to yoga as a workout!

Hubby is away to Barcelona next week, which means that getting out of the house and down to the gym is pretty much out.

Huff.

Looks like I'll be back to putting O into the Bugaboo and power-walking around the village.

My friend has just texted to say she is currently climbing up Teggs Nose and discovering how unfit she is. Suspect this is not true, she does lots of cycling and aerobics! Will definitely be walking out with her next week, and breaking in my new (hopefully amazingly comfortable!) hiking boots.

Yay!

The delivery of Milk Nursingwear arrived into stock this morning too. The keyhole dresses are fabulous and have been very well received by breastfeeding mamas in the UK. Black and Purple have been restocked, but are selling quickly.

There are also more of the brilliant halter neck dresses in classic black and stylish teal, perfect breastfeeding dresses for special occasions and super stylish too. The new smocked tops look beautiful, the "popcorn" type ruched/smocked detailing on the tops is very pretty indeed. The tops skim over new mum tum fantastically, and I think they're going to be really popular.

More new tops from Milk Nursingwear will be arriving shortly, their Spring/Summer range sounds lovely and I can't wait to bring them over to the breastfeeding mummies in the UK.

Breast Foot Forward, raising money for Breastfeeding groups!!

I have decided I am in need of a New Year challenge in order to improve my fitness, generally tone up and get more active!

When I heard that MedEquip4Kids were launching a new Charity, Committed2Breastfeeding, I wanted to help raise funds for this fantastic cause. Bella Mama are totally committed to supporting Breastfeeding mothers, and their decision to breastfeed. MedEquip4Kids has signed up to a global campaign initiated by UNICEF. The Baby Friendly Initiative is working to improve breastfeeding rates worldwide, and this campaign is supported by the World Health Organisation and the UK government, along with many of the Primary Care Trusts in the North West region. Its objective is to ensure that women are able to make an informed choice as to whether or not to breastfeed.

MedEquip4Kids has launched its first Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, Breast Foot Forward, and it will be taking place on Saturday, May 1st. The Yorkshire Three Peaks is one of the most famous fitness challenges in the country - walk 24 miles conquering Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside. So, along with my friend Hayley,  I will digging out my walking boots, strapping on my rucksack and tackling Breast Foot Forward in aid of the Committed2Breastfeeding project!!

This is easily the most challenging thing I have ever done, (I'm going to have to work hard to improve my fitness for the event!!)  and it would be fantastic if you could help me to raise funds for this great cause.
http://www.justgiving.com/Kirsten-BellaMama 
So please dig deep and donate now.
Thank you so much,
Kirsten
xxx

Sale on Breastfeeding Tops - up to 40% Savings

Bella Mama are having a Winter Breastfeeding Clothing Sale, lots of fabulous nursingwear is available with up to 40% off.  Lots of the tops are the last few in stock, so if you see something you like, go for it!!

More lovely stock is due in shortly, keep checking the website for details and I will add it as soon as I can! We have some really exciting plans for 2010, it's been really hard work and there's plenty more of that to come!

Hooray for Breastfeeding Dresses!!

Just had the loveliest mail from a v. happy customer:

I received the dress today - what super quick delivery - especially this close to Christmas. Wanted this dress for xmas day - it looks lovely and is very flattering on my tummy - a very good thing after 4 children (most recently twins!)

Looking foward to wearing it on xmas day, knowing i'll look good and be wearing a dress - in all my years of breastfeeding i've always had to miss out on wearing dresses until i wasn't breastfeeding anymore - so thank you so much!

Yay! I am delighted that the dress is so brilliant! Milk Nursingwear is exclusive to Bella Mama in the UK and has been really well received by our nursing mamas!

Breastfeeding Dresses and Maternity wear for Stylish Mamas!

The Festive Season has arrived, a time of seasonal parties, special events and fabulous meals with family and friends, and the chance to dress up in your finest! For any woman, finding the stylish solution to occasion wear is a tricky one but for new Breast feeding mums the search is even harder.

At Bella Mama we are frequently asked about dresses which are suitable for wearing when you want to feel chic and stylish. As a new mum you want to wear something girlie and glamorous, that makes you feel fabulous but also allows you to breastfeed your little one easily. You want to wear your beautiful dress and you don’t want to leave the party to sit in another room when your baby is hungry!

The perfect solution to breastfeeding in public with confidence is a dress which has been specially designed to provide easy nursing access. Bella Mama offers the best selection in the UK of nursing dresses suitable for all kinds of special occasions. Here is a selection of our favourites:

Milk Nursingwear Keyhole dress £55

Milk Nursingwear's fabulous Keyhole dress is stylish and elegant - wonderful for wearing on Christmas Day, or anytime when you want to feel chic. The black stretch fabric falls beautifully, and the fashionable keyhole design detailing gives a lovely twist to this classic dress.

Looks beautiful accessorised with sparkly earrings or chunky bracelet - a perfect foil for some fabulous jewellery. Nurse effortlessly by pulling up the dress at the empire band to access nursing openings beneath.

 

Mayreau Cowl Neck Dress £105

Brand new to Bella Mama, the divine Mayreau Cowl neck dress is our most luxurious breastfeeding dress yet. The dress is made from the softest modal fabric, which feels buttery soft on the skin and gives a real feeling of luxury.

The cowl neck cleverly conceals the nursing access, and the gathered sleeve detail is just divine. Wear dressed up with jewellery and heels, or down with leggings and flats, this dress is incredibly versatile and looks great whatever the occasion. 

Milk Nursingwear Flirty Halter Neck Teal £49

I am always asked for my recommendations on styles for special occasions, and I think this is perfect! This sexy halter style for nursing mamas ensures you look effortlessly fabulous. Milk have magically added a built-in shelf-bra and place to hold your nursing pads - meaning you can strut your stuff in style!

Gorgeous ruffles add a flirty fun edge to this pretty little dress, whilst the adjustable tie allows for a more customized fit. Nursing Access is simple, just lift up the empire layer to access openings.

Dote Black Noir Dress £53

A firm favourite for nursing style, the Noir Dress has just flown out of the store, and no wonder as it is simply divine.

The dress has a gathering across the neckline and skirt, disguising any post-baby tummy. It can be accessorised with a belt or sparkly scarf, giving an edgy fashionable look. Available in Short or full length fabulous Maxi dress!

How to dress when Breastfeeding

Bella Mama is featured in Bounty's How to Dress when Breastfeeding article - I am so thrilled! We are described as "an on-line breastfeeding boutique, which offers aspirational designs for chic and trendy mums." **blush!**

Bella Mama is the UK’s leading boutique for new mums specialising in Transitional Maternity and Nursing Wear. Our clothing is suitable for during and after pregnancy, all of the styles offer easy (but unnoticeable) nursing access and of course are ultra stylish, comfortable and flattering.

I love selecting transitional nursingwear which will ensure the transition from pregnant mama-to-be to breastfeeding new mama is as simple as possible. Choosing clothing which will seamlessly adapt to your changing figure through the full 9 months and beyond not only ensures your wardrobe choices are easy throughout pregnancy and your time as a new mummy, but also give you excellent value for money. 

Two of our best-selling transitional maternity/nursingwear tops are the fabulous Mia top from Mayreau (available in Black, Red, Grey, Midnight and a choice of long or 3/4 sleeve) and our very own Bella Mama Shirred Top available in classic Black and festive wine. Both tops are brilliantly flattering throughout pregnancy, and oh-so-simple to breastfeed in! 

Win Mother and Baby Tin from Bella Mama Breastfeeding Boutique

Win a fabulous Mother and Baby tin from Dough Dough! During November each purchase from the Bella Mama website, new Fan joining on Facebook and new comment added on our Facebook page, Facebook Discussion or Bella Mama's Blog will give you one entry to the draw. The winner will be drawn at random on 1st Dec. You can enter as many times as you like!

The Dough Dough tin is just delicious - I often send them to my new mummy friends and they are hugely appreciated!! The contain 2 x double chocolate muffins, 2 x brownies, 2 x chocolate chip shortbread, no nonsense jelly babies, and champagne truffles, and for baby a JELLYCAT cuddly toy. All contents come delicately swaddled in a stylish silver tin.
 
Bella Mama offers a fabulous range of breastfeeding clothing and accessories for new mums. Our online boutique ensures can shop conveniently and easily from home 24/7 at www.BellaMama.co.uk

We offer stylish nursing dresses, chic breastfeeding tops, pretty nursing bras, gorgeous baby bags and other accessories.

We stock a huge range of the best nursingwear designers, and offer many ranges not offered elsewhere in the UK. In our boutique you will find breastfeeding clothing from 1 in the Oven, Mayreau, Belabumbum, Dote, Annee Matthew, Milk, Blissful Babes, Milkdaze, Maternalove, Expressiva, Aimee Nursing Gowns, Mama Cocoon, Glamourmom, Melba Maternity, Moody Mamas, Peek-a-boo and of course our very own Bella Mama label.

We are constantly expanding our range to bring you the freshest and most stylish nursingwear available! 

Planning your perfect breastfeeding wardrobe – choosing breastfeeding clothes

Spending a little time planning your breastfeeding wardrobe will ensure that you don’t have a daily “nothing to wear” crisis! As a new mum there will be plenty of other demands on your time, so ensuring you have a few key pieces in your breastfeeding wardrobe will ease you through your post-partum period.

Begin with the basics
Choosing nursing vests in one or two staple colours will give you a great layering base. White, Black and Grey are classic choices and will allow you to mix and match your outfits flexibly. Look for vests with built-in bra support, these are indispensable in the first few weeks when your milk comes in and your boobs are swollen and tender. Longer length breastfeeding vests also layer well and give you a longer, leaner look whilst ensuring that your post-partum tummy is fully covered.

Casual loungewear
You will spend a lot of time in those early days breastfeeding your baby and generally recovering from the birth. Go easy on yourself and ensure that you have loose-fitting trousers and figure flattering tops to snuggle into during those magical first few weeks. Look for loungewear or nightwear with simple nursing access like easy drop cup access, or wrap access which is easy to move aside when you want to feed. Choose fabrics which are soft and cosy, and stretch easily so you are really comfy. They must also wash easily - a must when dealing with spit up or leaking milk!!

A fabulous breastfeeding Dress
Nursing dresses are wonderful and having one or two in your wardrobe will allow you to pull on something quickly and easily which guarantees that you will look pulled together and stylish with the minimum of effort. Classic black is slimming and can be mixed with different accessories allowing you to change your look by pairing with belts, scarves or jewellery. A good breastfeeding dress is also fabulous for special occasions such as your baby’s christening, weddings or family events letting your feed your little one quickly and easily.

Tops, tops, tops
When you have a baby you will find you spend a lot of time out of the house meeting up with other mums at coffee mornings, baby activity classes, playgroups and doctor’s appointments. A variety of well designed nursing tops will give you confidence to head out of the house knowing you can feed your baby where and when you choose, with the minimum of fuss. Choose different styles that will work flexibly to give you a casual or dressed up look as you choose. Many breastfeeding tops are also designed for wearing during your pregnancy which will give you great value for money.

Autumn is finally here... nursing clothing for the season!

The beautiful exceptionally late "Indian Summer" we've been enjoying has finally come to a close... our Halloween celebrations took us on a trail around a local NT property with friends and we all had a fabulous time searching for bats around the spooky mill! The blustery blowy swirling winds of November have finally kicked in and are shaking the leaves from the trees in the garden. Boooooooooooooo!  The rain is beating against my window, my snuggly Ugg boots are on (as ever!) and the logs I stacked into the log store at the weekend are being put to good use!! We are in the midst of redecorating our lounge (paint charts, masking tape, new brushes and dust sheets prevail) and I am trying very hard to persuade Himself that we need a wonderful new log basket that I have spotted in a magazine!!

At Bella Mama we have some wonderful nursingwear that will see you through these cold blustery days in style. In particular we have some captivating breastfeeding tops and dazzling nursing dresses from some fabulous new designers, as well as our very own glamorous Bella Mama label breastfeeding tops. The sumptuous shades of pumpkin, wine, plum, espresso, raspberry, chocolate and damson are positively mouth-watering at this time of the year as well as being incredibly flattering!

We have divine dresses on pre-order from Milk nursingwear (Exclusive to Bella Mama in the UK) as well as other desirable styles of breastfeeding dresses, nursing nightwear and breast feeding tops on their way from the USA, Israel, Australia and Europe! If you follow us on Facebook, you will find out first about all the latest new of our newest additions, great competitions, discounts, brilliant offers and be in line for road testing Bella Mama's newest styles!

More new Bella Mama Breastfeeding Tops...

The photographs of our new Bella Mama Breastfeeding tops arrived with me today. I had to wait a little longer than usual for the shots as I wasn't happy with the way the cowl neck top was originally taken... (ever the perfectionist - hahahaha!) The top is gorgeous, and a really flattering style and I just didn't feel that the original picture did it justice. Anyway, several retakes later and I am happy with the result... so our new Demeter cowl necks in Damson are ready to order online! The colour is fabulous, and just great for this time of year. Plum shades are so versatile and are perfect for teaming with jeans, combats, joggers and casual trousers! It's just the right blend of dark enough to flatter the figure and the right shade to enhance that new mum glow. The cowl neck is brilliantly flattering, and the nursing access is really well hidden, you honestly cannot tell this is a nursing top. Just pull aside the cowl neckline to access the breastfeeding openings, whilst keeping your back, tummy and sides well hidden and cosy... This fabulous breastfeeding top is also available in our very lovely Ruby colour.

Our second new addition is our popular crossover breastfeeding top style, now available in a fabulous teal shade. This nursing top is simplicity itself, the crossover nursing panel just pulls to the side for ultra-simple nursing style. Keeping you covered, and able to feed your little one where and when you choose.  Bella Mama's crossover breastfeeding tops are an immensely versatile style, which can be dressed up or down with the addition of chunky necklaces, scarves, belts or cuffs... to be as casual or as dressy as you please.  The teal colour is gorgeous, and complements so many different colourings... it really is one of those colours which looks great on everyone!! This style is selling really well at Bella Mama, and is currently available in the lovely Autumnal shades of Raspberry, Teal and Espresso.

More New Tops!

Our brand new Juno tops have also arrived this week. These tops are lovely, made from beautiful modal fabric they are super soft and comfy to wear. Modal is made from fibres from beech trees, feels like silk and doesn't fade, pill, or shrink the same way as cotton tends to. The vee neck styling of the Juno tops with the ruched band detail draws the eye to the narrowest part of your body for a slimming effect, ensuring this top is a new mum's best friend!

The Freshest Nursingwear on the Planet!

Bella Mama are leading the field in providing nursingwear to new Mamas. I am proud to say that we were the first to bring many designers to the UK for the first time - Dote nursingwear, Maternalove, Aimee Nursinggowns, Moody Mamas, Milkdaze and Peek-a-boo to name a few.

I love searching for fabulous new nursingwear that will delight our customers, flatter their new figures, be super practical for breastfeeding as well as standing up to constant washing and wearing! I am constantly expanding our range to bring new mamas the freshest and prettiest nursingwear available, and this time I have found the freshest of the fresh!

The latest addition to Bella Mama's range of Breastfeeding clothing is Milk Nursingwear. Created by Elisa Minsk Hartstein (who previously set up the incredibly successful Expressiva label) their nursingwear is fresh and contemporary, with simple lines and bold modern colours. Our stock will be arriving shortly, and we are just thrilled to be the first to offer the line in the UK. I think our new mamas are going to love it!!!

More New Stock

Walking round the village to pre-school this morning Miss O was fascinated with the fallen leaves, and the pretty colours the trees are starting to turn... Although this week has been pretty mild, there is a definite cooling in the weather. Summer really is at an end and Autumn is coming... Our wood burning stove has already seen its first fire of the season (hubby has been out chopping logs too), the blackberries are appearing on our brambles and my snuggly Ugg boots are back on constantly. Miss O has new boots and I am mighty jealous.

 

Check out the soft leather, the suede patches, the metallic stitching and the cosy furry tops... I want a pair in my size! I am on a mission to find some fab looking (but comfy) flat boots for myself now! I can barely wear heels anymore, they just hurt my back. I wondered about getting a pair of MBTs but I don't know anyone who's had any to see if they are worth the money. I know lots of people with FitFlops, who swear they are great for backache and posture, but they aren't too practical at this time of year!

The change in the season means new Bella Mama stock though and I have some gorgeous clothes arriving for A/W 09, including several new designers. I am constantly searching for the best breastfeeding clothing world-wide, and it's great to be the first to bring the freshest and prettiest designs to the UK.

I am rapidly running out of space in our stock room! My sister Nicola has been in this week to help with stock check (thank you!) and has organised the space fabulously. This week more new Bella Mama tops have arrived, including the very lovely new Maia breastfeeding top. They are so comfy and very flattering to new mama midriff! The soft jersey fabric skims beautifully, whilst the gentle ruching and tie detail around the neckline draws the eye upwards and away from new mum tum! 

Providing a flash of colour for the new season, is the new Bella Mama cowl neck top which should be arriving towards the end of September. The jersey fabric drapes beautifully and the cowl neck is ultra elegant, whilst the longer length ensures it is great for taller mums or those wanting to hide their tummies. Bella Mama Cowl Neck Ruby

I'm off to pick more raspberries (this has been the best year for our crop!) for more raspberry jelly, I even managed to get enough to do raspberry gin (yay! but won't be ready until Christmas) and also the early blackberries which have started to appear on the bramble bushes in the neglected "wildlife" part of our garden. Haha, I'd love to say they are there by design, but the truth is all the tough weeds (brambles, horsetail, creeping buttercup) seem to thrive in these parts...