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Excellent suggestion - the fruit makes decent jam and a very good damson gin. They seem to be in decline locally - I think from modern hedgerow 'management' using a flail more than anything.
They seem to grow well here in Shropshire clay soils (not surprisingly) but the one I've grown from a stone is not yet old enough to bear fruit itself - apparently 12-15 years, so perhaps buy an established one if possible?
Edit: faster replies while I've been struggling with a keyboard makes much of the above redundant...
MrE
Shropshire prune. Small, hardy, will cope with soaking, nice blossoms and you (or the birds/insects) can eat the fruit.