Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Ladybird on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Somerset Levels, Somerset, England, UK, April

Colin Varndell / Close up of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Spring, Dorset, UK

Niall Benvie / Photograph of Blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa) manipulated and text added to represent illustrated book page. Scotland, UK, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / della F / Lichens growing on a Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) near Zadrzani village, Northern Livanjsko Polje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 2009

Alan Williams / Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) male singing perched on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Essex, UK, May

Andy Sands / Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) in full song among Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Nick Upton / Aaron's rod (Verbascum thapsus) on chalk grassland slope, with several Sloe bugs / Hairy shieldbugs (Dolycoris baccarum) feeding on the flowering spike, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Juan Manuel Borrero / Illustration of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Detail of leaves and fruit. Pencil and watercolor painting.

Loic Poidevin / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) with sloe berries. French Pyrenees, September.

Sandra Bartocha / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flowers, Germany, April

Ernie Janes / Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flowing along country lane, Salthouse Heath, Norfolk, UK, April.

Ross Hoddinott / Blackthorn berries / sloes (Prunus spinosa) Bossington, Somerset, UK, August.

Ernie Janes / Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) on blackthorn / sloe berries, UK

Ernie Janes / Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) on Blackthorn / sloe branch with berries, UK

Ernie Janes / Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) on blackthorn / sloe berries, UK

Ernie Janes / Blue tit (Parus caeruleus) on blackthorn with sloe berries, UK

Andy Sands / Sloe Bug (Dolycoris baccarum) on petal of evening primrose after shower of rain. Hertfordshire, England, UK, July.

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Landscape view of RSPB's Hope Farm reserve showing Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) crop growing with winter stubble in the foreground and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) hedgerow in blossom in the backgrou...

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Landscape view of RSPB's Hope Farm reserve showing Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) crop growing with winter stubble in the foreground and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) hedgerow in blossom in the backgrou...

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Mature hedgerow with Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in flower, Hope Farm RSPB reserve, Cambridgeshire, England, UK, April

Alex Hyde / Blackthorn fruit 'sloes' (Prunus spinosa) close up of fruit, Derbyshire, UK, October.

Kerstin Hinze / Fat / Edible dormouse (Glis glis) feeding in blackthorn / sloe bush (Prunus spinosa) at night, Lower Saxony, Germany,

Colin Varndell / Sloe / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) berries, Dorset, UK, September

Ross Hoddinott / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom. North Cornwall, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flowers close up with background of blossom. Cornwall, UK, April.

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Small bug (unidentified) on Blackthorn {Prunus spinosa} with sloes forming, wildlife rich hedgerows, Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Lampeter, Wales, UK. June

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa), Somerset Levels, England, UK, April

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa), Somerset Levels, England, UK, April

Ernie Janes / Autumn berries of Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) UK

Ernie Janes / Sloe berries / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and red Pyracanthus berries, UK

Adrian Davies / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flowering. UK, April.

Simon Colmer / Blackthorn / Sloe fruit (Prunus spinosa) Levin Down Nature Reserve, Sussex, UK, August

Simon Colmer / Blackthorn / Sloe fruit (Prunus spinosa) Levin Down Nature Reserve, Sussex, UK, August

Simon Colmer / Blackthorn / Sloe fruit (Prunus spinosa) Levin Down Nature Reserve, Sussex, UK, August

Simon Colmer / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) twig and buds in winter against white background, UK

Andy Sands / Sloe Bug shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum) on Oak leaf, Hertfordshire, England, July

Simon Colmer / Blackthorn twig (Prunus spinosa) and buds in winter, UK

Colin Varndell / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom close-up showing laden anthers. Dorset, UK, April.

Alex Hyde / Blackthorn berries / sloeberries / sloes (Prunus spinosa).

Alex Hyde / Blackthorn berries / sloeberries / sloes (Prunus spinosa).

Adrian Davies / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) growing from gryke in limestone pavement. The Burren, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, June

Colin Varndell / Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa) close-up of blossom, Dorset, UK, April

Philippe Clement / Blackthorn / Sloe berries (Prunus spinosa), Belgium, September

Nick Upton / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom and flower buds starting to open. Wiltshire, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom and thorns, close-up detail. Wiltshire, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom and blue sky. Wiltshire, UK, April.

Colin Varndell / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in blossom against a blue sky. Dorset, UK April 2010

Colin Varndell / Sloe / Blackthorn berries (Prunus spinosa) and Hawthorn berries (Crataegus monogyna) in Dorset hedge. October

Colin Varndell / Sloe / Blackthorn berries (Prunus spinosa) close up, on branch, October. Dorset, UK

Dave Bevan / Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) male perched in blackthorn bush, Bedfordshire, UK, Captive

Colin Varndell / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) close-up of blossom. Dorset, UK April

Philippe Clement / Blackthorn in flower (Prunus spinosa) in spring, Luxembourg

Philippe Clement / Blackthorn branch in flower (Prunus spinosa) in spring, Luxembourg

Colin Varndell / Sloes / Blackthorn berries (Prunus spinosa) Dorset, UK

Colin Varndell / Close up of Blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa) blossom, Spring, Dorset, UK

Robert Thompson / Blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa) County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, March

Colin Varndell / Sloe / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) berries, Dorset, UK, October

Laurie Campbell / Blackthorn / Sloe berries (Prunus spinosa) Perthshire, Scotland, UK

Stephen Dalton / Blackthorn {Prunus spinosa} blossom in woodland, Sussex, UK

Stephen Dalton / Blackthorn / Sloe bush blossom (Prunus spinosa) UK

Alan Williams / Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) male perched on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Essex, UK, May

Alan Williams / Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) male singing perched on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Essex, UK, May

Alan Williams / Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) male singing perched on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Essex, UK, May

Konstantin Mikhailov / Blackthorn tree {Prunus spinosa} in flower, Russia, May

Konstantin Mikhailov / Blackthorn tree {Prunus spinosa} in flower, Russia, May

Alan Williams / Corn bunting (Miliaria calandra) singing on Blackthorn on farmland, Essex, UK, April

Alan Williams / Corn bunting (Miliaria calandra) singing on Blackthorn on farmland, Essex, UK, April

Nick Upton / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in blossom on clifftop. Cornwall, UK, spring.

Nick Upton / Clifftop pathway, Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) bushes in flower. Cornwall, UK, spring.

Nick Upton / Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) bushes flowering side by side. Cornwall, UK, spring.

Andy Sands / Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) with blossom in beak, Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Andy Sands / Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) perched among Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossom, Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Edwin Giesbers / Short-horned chameleon (Calumma brevicornis) sloe-up of eye, Madagascar

Mike Wilkes / Redwing {Turdus Iliacus} eating Sloe berry from Blackthorn tree {Prunus spinosa} Warwickshire, UK

Kim Taylor / Sloe berries (Prunus spinosa) fruit in autumn. Digital composite, Surrey, UK

Gary K. Smith / Blackthorn {Prunus spinosa} in full blossom, Norfolk, UK, April

MYN / Niall Benvie / Blackthorn blossom {Prunus spinosa}, Angus, Scotland, UK meetyourneighbours.net project

Rolf Nussbaumer / Blackthorn {Prunus spinosa} berries, Switzerland

MYN / Niall Benvie / Blackthorn blossom {Prunus spinosa}, Angus, Scotland, UK meetyourneighbours.net project

Martin Gabriel / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) fruit (Sloe berries) Bavaria, Germany

Martin Gabriel / Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) covered in fruit (sloe berries) Bavaria, Germany

Mike Wilkes / Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris} eating Blackthorn sloe berries, Warwickshire, UK.

Mike Wilkes / Redwing {Turdus iliacus} eating Blackthorn sloe berries, Warwickshire, UK.

Mike Wilkes / Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris} perched eating Blackthorn sloe berries, Warwickshire, UK

Mike Wilkes / Great tit {Parus major} perched amongst Blackthorn sloe berries, Warwickshire, UK

Mike Wilkes / Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris} perched eating Blackthorn sloe berries, Warwickshire, UK

Mike Wilkes / Redwing {Turdus iliacus} eating Blackthorn sloe berry, Warwickshire, UK.

Nigel Bean / Sloes on Blackthorn bush (Prunus spinosa) Somerset, UK

Nigel Bean / Sloe / Blackthorn {Prunus spinosa} close up of berries, Somerset, UK

Nigel Bean / Sloe / Blackthorn {Prunus spinosa} berries, Somerset, UK

Mike Wilkes / Blackbird (Turdus merula) male feeding on Sloe berries, Warwickshire, UK

Simon Colmer / Blackthorn / Sloe bush (Prunus spinosa) in flower, Kent, UK

Mike Wilkes / Tree sparrow (Passer montanus) perched amongst fruit in Sloe bush (Prunus spinosa), UK

Dave Watts / Blackthorn blossom {Prunus spinosa}, France

Dave Watts / Blackthorn blossom {Prunus spinosa}, France

Mike Wilkes / Blue tit {Parus caeruleus} amongst sloe berries, UK