Through this piece we’re going to be taking a look at the 5 of the most toxic berries found in the UK (or at least from our experience foraging over the years). In summer and autumn time the hedgerows and woods of the UK really come alive with colour, and…
Category: Plants
Redcurrant / Summer / Edible Redcurrant is an easy to identify member of the Gooseberry family with edible fruits. Common Names Redcurrant, Red currant Botanical Name Ribes rubrum Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Saxifragales Family – Grossulariaceae Physical Characteristics for Redcurrant Leaves The leaves are palmate, with 3-5…
Spindle / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Spindle is a fairly common shrub or small tree, one of the indictors of an ancient woodland but consumption can lead to death. Common Names Spindle, European spindle, Common spindle Botanical Name Euonymus europaeus Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Celastrales Family…
Deadly Nightshade / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Deadly Nightshade – As the name suggests it can be deadly poisonous, it’s a member of the same family as tomatoes, potatoes and aubergines and it’s fairly common in the UK. Common Names Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna Botanical Name Atropa belladonna…
Black Bryony / Summer / Toxic A toxic member of the Yam family, it’s quite a common sight in summer and autumn, all parts are poisonous. It’s a climber and can grow up to 4m each year. Common Names Black Bryony, Lady’s-seal or Black bindweed Botanical Name Dioscorea communis or…
Guelder Rose Other Common Names: Cramp bark tree, Crampbush Latin Name: Viburnum opulus Parts Used: Berries in food, bark in medicine. Physical Characteristics: A woody perennial shrub that can grow to 4m in height. Leaves The leaves, 5–10cm long, grow up the stem oppositely. They have three-lobes with serrated edges.…
Pheasant berry / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible A non-native member of the Honeysuckle family, it’s originally from China and the Himalaya’s and was introduced to the UK by the Victorians. The berries have a strong toffee like flavour. It’s a deciduous shrub-like plant. Common Names Pheasant berry,…
Wild Thyme / All Year Round / Edible Identification Guide for Wild Thyme  It’s a low lying member of the Mint family, it often grows in dense mats and can be used in place of cultivated Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Common Names Wild Thyme, Creeping Thyme Botanical Name Thymus…
foraging and herbal medicine go hand in glove. Herbal remedies are easily produced at home because they involve extracting and/or preserving plant material using age-old processes like macerating in vinegar, oil or alcohol, preserved by drying or using a potent source of sugar or salt, or fermenting into a condiment…
Spruce / All year round / Edible Spruce is a naturalised, fast-growing, evergreen tree. Common Names      UK spruce, Norway spruce Botanical Name Picea abies Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Pinales Family – Pinaceae Physical Characteristics for Spruce Leaves The needles are stiff and sharp and grow individually, around…