Is that a plum in your mouth?

Charles Quest-Ritson has grown more than 20 types of plum, gage, mirabelle and damson over the years. Here, he recommends some of the finest

If you know where to look and what to do with it, profound pleasure can be gleaned from foraging autumn’s hedgerow bounty, says John Wright

■ Serves 4 ■ Prep 30 mins ■ Cook 50 mins 4 large field mushrooms4 tbsp olive oil1 garlic clove, chopped400g spinach leavesflour, for dusting1 tbsp thyme leaves500g block all-butter puff pastry140g sti

LEISURE

Versatile crab apples, growing ‘posh’ grapes and caring for ...

They all started out on different paths – from sales offices to science labs – but each of these professional bakers found purpose and joy in baking. Here, they tell Jill Foster why it has become a passion that continues to nourish their souls