June is the time to go out and collect frothy cream elder flowers from the hedgerows, all ready to make some delicious elder flower cordial.  Either drink it diluted with water or mix a small amount with fresh strawberries or raspberries.

If you are going our for a family walk, take a basket and collect about 30 large heads of elder flowers from elder bushes away from roads, then go home and follow this recipe:

• Add 1.8Kg of granulated sugar to a litre of water and gently bring to the boil, stirring occasionally.
• Cut the larger stems off the elder flowers and put the flowers in a large bowl with the grated zest of 2 lemons and then slice the lemons and add them as well.
• Carefully pour the boiling sugar syrup into the bowl and stir in 75g citric acid (available from chemist shops).
• Cover the bowl and leave for 24 hours.  Strain through double muslin and pour into clean bottles.
• Store in the deep freeze until needed.

For more elder flower ideas, see our book Nature’s Playground.