
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) - Also known locally as winberry, bilberry is another excellent food source for sheep and wildlife who eat both the fruit and leaves. Bilberry is evergreen so is an excellent winter food source for sheep on the mountain. It also responds well to cutting and burning of the moorland, being the first plant to regenerate after management.
In some areas of the country, bilberries have been traditionally used as a dye and are still collected today and used in a variety of food recipes, such as jam, muffins or fruit pies.
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