BRITISH strawberry growers couldn’t have wished for better weather this spring. The prolonged heatwave has been perfect for their plants, which by now will be buckling under the weight of plump, juicy strawberries.

And our unique microclimate has meant strawberry fields in Dorset and Hampshire have fared particularly well with pick-your-own farms preparing for a bumper season.

“It’s certainly looking like a good crop this year and they are three weeks earlier than normal,” says Liz Goldsack of Holme for Gardens in Wareham.

“The fruit has just started to ripen now so, depending on the weather, we should be open for pick your own this week.”

While a few growers expressed caution that a glut of the fruit would drive down prices, largely they have welcomed the unexpected yield.

It’s good news for the environment too. With Britain producing more strawberries this year, supermarket giants have cut their foreign imports of the fruit by as much as 50 per cent, which cuts down food miles and puts money back into local economies.

However, the warm spring sunshine has not only boosted quantity, it has also driven up quality and consumers can expect an extra burst of sweetness from this year’s strawberries, many of which will be heading to Wimbledon next month where tennis fans will scoff approximately 30,000 kilos of the fruit.

They will enjoy them with about 7,000 litres of cream, but while strawberries and cream are a classic combination, there are many other ways to make the most of this beautiful berry as visitors to the Holme for Gardens’ annual Strawberry Fayre will see.

The event takes place on Saturday, June 25 this year and local foodies are invited along to join in the celebration of this tasty summer fruit. “Last year we had ten different varieties of strawberry to sample,” explains Liz Goldsack.

“We also had lots of stall holders selling strawberry themed cakes and pies and a special strawberry menus in the Orchard Tea Rooms.”

For details call 01929 554716.

For some of the Daily Echo’s favourite strawberry recipes, read on.