In Season: April is wild and cruel

April is the cruelest month - TS Eliot

Carpet of three-cornered leek in Lanton Woods

Until I became a gardener, I presumed the cruelest thing about April was the weather; lulling one instant and lashing the next. Eliot was, of course, talking about the dissonance between spring and the aftermath of war. But it could equally be a comment on the way that, at this time of year, new life is seduced into the world with mellifluous bird song, blossom, and warm rays, only to be subjected to a late frost, the careless boot, the merciless plough, and the ravenous mouths of many creatures. These are all bleakly anticipated by those currently bearing pampered seedlings from greenhouse to garden.

If you’re looking for some comfort in this tricky month, read on for a taste of whats happening on farms, in the garden, at local food events, and what to gather and cook from the wild.

Ploughing in early April