Foraging in Sussex The deep south of the country provides a really interesting and varied foraging location. There is variety and abundance all through the year and often certain things will even thrive in winter due to the slightly milder temperatures experienced in Sussex. There are some great finds to…
Category: Foraging

Botanical Name Fraxinus excelsior Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Lamiales Family – Oleaceae Physical Characteristics Stems Light grey bark, that fissures with age, the stems are smooth with distinctive black buds, which are arranged in opposite pairs.  Leaves Large compound leaves, up to 40 cm long, are…

Wild Carrot / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Wild Carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace, Birds nest. Botanical name Daucus Carota Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Apilaes Family – Apiaceae Physical Characteristics for Wild Carrot Leaves The leaves are tri-pinnate, finely divided, lacy and triangular in shape. The…

Horseradish / All Year / Edible Common Names Horseradish, Wild Horseradish Botanical Name Armoracia Rusticana Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Brassicales Family – Brassicaceae Physical Characteristics for Horseradish Wild Horseradish looks most similar to dock and the easiest time of the year to identify between the two is in…

Wild Raspberry / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Raspberry, hindberry. Botanical Name Rubus Idaeus Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Rosales Family – Rosaceae Physical Characteristics for Wild Raspberry Leaves Raspberry has compound leaves which have 5-7 serrated leaflets. They are bright silver on the underside. Flowers The…

Flowering Currant / Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Flowering Currant Botanical Name Ribes sanguineum Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Saxifragales Family – Grossulariaceae Physical Characteristics for Flowering Currant Leaves It has palmately lobed leaves that give off a sweet herbal aroma when crushed. Flowers The flowers…

Mahonia / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Common Names Mahonia, Oregon Grape, Holly -leaved barberry Botanical Name Mahonia Aquifolium Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Rununculaes Family – Berberidaceae Physical Characteristics for Mahonia Leaves Pinnate leaves up to 30cm long, each leaf is made up of…

Cows Parsley / Spring / Summer / Edible Common names Cows Parsley, Wild Chervil, Mother die Botanical Name Anthriscus Sylvestris Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Apiales Family – Apiaceae Physical Characteristics Leaves Starting off as a rosette of long stems that are celery shaped with small hairs…

Bluebells / Spring / Poisonous Common names Bluebell Botanical Name Hyacinthoides Non-scripta Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Asparagales Family – Asparagaceaees Physical Characteristics for Bluebells Leaf A small bulb growing into long thin waxy leaves which have C shaped veins. Flowers It has bell-like flowers, each flower with 6…

English Oak / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Common Names Oak, English Oak, Pedunculate Oak Botanical Name Quercus robur Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Fagales Family – Fagaceae Physical Characteristics for Oak A large deciduous tree, growing up to 30-40 metres when fully grown,…