They look like pink peppercorns

But they aren't.

I don't know what these are but I have a patch of them on the soil between my strawberry plants and my very young Bramley apple tree. Does anyone know what they are? Do you know if they ever co-starred with Steve McQueen or Kevin McCarthy in the 1950's?

They are not so pretty today, they have turned forest mushroom brown, maybe that is so they can sneak up? Sort of their idea of an overcoat and fedora?