Raspberry canes run rampant in my garden. They love the sandy soil below, and the regular feed of compost on top. I grow them for two reasons – as a treat to eat while gardening in late summer, and to make raspberry vodka for winter months.

It’s easy to make – I save those posh glass water bottles from hotel rooms and restaurants, sterilise them in boiling water, fill one third with raspberries and an equal weight of sugar, and top up with vodka. They are stored in a dark cupboard, turned upside down to mix when I remember, and by Christmas the perfect tipple is ready – a taste of summer in winter! As with all vodka, it is best served from the freezer. Makes a lovely Christmas gift too.