WildWooders blackberry jam

This is the somewhat sad playground on the Hampstead Heath Extension, sparsely populated both with equipment and with children. No fun at all for the kids who live on either side of the Extension – like Olivia.

So Olivia decided that she was going to do something about it. Like pick the blackberries that grew so profusely on the heath extension, make jam out of them and then sell that jam to raise money for some new equipment for the playground.

With a bit of help from her mum, she created a website, Wildwooders.uk, with a  blog and a shop so that site visitors could buy jam, set up an Instagram account  – and got out picking.

…and making jam!

Next, to ‘jar’ it…. Wanting to be as eco friendly as possible, Olivia decided to try and use recycled jars from her neighbours. So she  ‘flyer-ed’ all the way up and down her road, explaining what she was doing and asking neighbours to leave any small jars that they did not want on their doorstep and she would collect them – which they did, in droves. Often leaving a donation or a note of support inside the jars.

So she was in business!  And indeed she still is as, so profuse were the blackberries over on the Heath Extension (unlike our sad, wizened ones on this side)  that although sales have been brisk, she still has some jam left.

A fine pot of jam will cost you £4 plus £2 P&P; £7 + £2 P&P for two pots – just check into the Wildwooders site and go the the shop.

And while you are there, do look around Olivia’s site on which she shows you her and her brother’s favourite spots on the heath and explains all about  her ambitions for the playground.

If you are interested in a bit more of the history of the Heath Extension see three of my posts from June: Towards the Heath Extension,  Hampstead Heath extension – Part 1…. and Hampstead Heath Extension – Part 2….

Right, I am off to buy some jam before you all clean Olivia’s shop out!