Slice the gooseberries into roughly 5mm (1⁄4in) rounds and place them in a bowl. Add the cider vinegar, sugar, and halfthe sweet cicely leaves, then season with salt and pepper. Allow the gooseberries to sit in the vinegar mixture while you shuck the oysters.

To shuck an oyster you’ll need an oyster knife (one with a sturdy, short blade) and a tea towel to protect your hand from the sharp shell as you grip it. Hold the oyster cupped-side down in the tea towel with the hinge facing towards you. Hold firmly on a chopping board. Insert the knife tip downwards between the two halves

of the shell at the pointed back end, where the hinge is located. Once you have the tip of the knife in, you can lever the shell open a little. Slip the knife along the underside of the top half of the shell, which will sever the oyster’s adductor muscle, allowing the shell to open fully. Carefully slide the knife blade underneath the oyster to release it completely. Try to save any liquor in the shell.

To serve, place the oysters in their half shells on a suitable serving plate or board. Spoon a little gooseberry mixture onto each oyster, tear over the remaining sweet cicely leaves and serve with a scattering of cicely flowers if you have them.