ACCORDING to the meteorologists' calendar autumn begins on September 22 and already there are changes, with cool mornings that slowly disappear when the (still) warm sun appears.

Swallows are meeting on telephone wires in large numbers to prepare for their trip back to Africa and the trees are changing into a rainbow of colours - especially the horse chestnut and silver birch.

We have had another warm, dry summer allowing the trees and plants to be laden with fruits, berries and seeds - it takes 20-30 years before an oak tree produces its seeds and this year Pollok's oak trees are richly covered with acorns. Look out for conkers too.

It's fantastic news for winter bird migrants such as redwings, fieldfares and waxwings which will arrive soon to feast on the fruit through the winter.

We can also enjoy nature's fruits so take this chance to forage food for free but leave plenty for the wildlife.

What is free wild food? Well... brambles!

Right now, brambles or blackberries, one of the tastiest and most abundant wild fruits packed with vitamin C, can be found almost everywhere - old railway tracks, woodlands, parks and even your garden if left to grow freely.

They are easily identifiable by their long thorny woody stems with a white flower during summer turning into the black juicy fruits we see now.

Don't pick them if they are low to the ground in areas where there are lots of dogs or in polluted areas, for example, where there has been weed spraying, industrial areas or some roadside verges.

It's not easy picking them because of the thorns but wearing gloves protects your hands as long as they're not so thick they stop you feeling the fruits. Wear old clothes with long sleeves and trousers as they will stain and make sure you have solid containers so they don't get squashed.

Trying them first is the fun part of picking them but they can be made into lots of things including jelly, puddings, wine and smoothies. Use them as soon as you get home as they perish quickly or you can freeze them and they will last months.

n For details of our citywide events, visit Wild about Glasgow Events at www.glasgow.gov.uk/parks or call 0141 276 0924.