What Is a Ginger Bug? A ginger bug is a fermentation starter made from fresh ginger, sugar, and water that captures wild yeasts and beneficial bacteria from the ginger’s skin. Similar to a sourdough starter for bread, a ginger bug creates natural carbonation in homemade sodas and fermented beverages without…
Category: spring
Oak Polypore / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible Scientific Name Inonotus dryadeus Common Names Oak Polypore, Oak Bracket, Weeping conk and Warted Oak Polypore Family Hymenochaetaceae Habitat An infrequent find in northern Britain but fairly common in Wales and southern England. They are parasitic and are…
Coltsfoot/ Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Coltsfoot, Horse-hoof, bulls foot, foal’s wort and ass’ foot, Son before the father. Botanical Name Tussilago Farfara Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Senecioneae Family – Asteraceae Physical Characteristics for Coltsfoot Leaves Leaves appear later in the year in mid spring…
Ladies fern / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Lady fern, Female fern, female polypody Botanical Name Athyrium filix-femina Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Polypodiales Family – Athyriaceae Physical Characteristics for Ladies fern Ferns are different to the majority of plants we are familiar with, they…
Red-belted polypore / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Red Belted Polypore (Fomitopsis pinicola) is a bold and beautiful bracket fungus found growing on dead or dying coniferous trees, occasionally hardwoods, throughout the UK and across the Northern Hemisphere. This distinctive polypore gets its name from…
 These Elderflower ice lollies are summer on a stick—light, floral, and almost too easy to make. They’re the kind of thing that makes you feel like a forager even if all you did was wander into the kitchen. Elderflower cordial does all the heavy lifting, paired with zingy lemon…
This Elderflower & Sea Salt Ice Cream is one of those dreamy summer recipes that feels a bit fancy but is actually super simple to make. The Elderflower brings a gentle floral sweetness, while the sea salt gives just the right kick to stop it from being too delicate. It’s…
This Elderflower kombucha is light, floral, and naturally fizzy—simple to make and seriously refreshing. The Elderflower adds a subtle sweetness that works perfectly with the tang of the fermented tea. It’s a great one to have in the fridge for warm days, and a nice alternative to sugary drinks or…
This Elder and Orchard creation is the kind of drink that tastes like summer got lost in the woods—and came back with rum. With apple juice, Elderflower, a squeeze of citrus, and a fizzy top-up of cloudy lemonade, it’s fresh, fruity, and ridiculously easy to throw together. No fancy kit,…
Looking for a way to make the most of Samphire beyond the usual lemon-and-fish combo? This vibrant and unexpected dish pairs the sea-salty crunch of Samphire with the sweet brightness of orange and the earthy depth of toasted hazelnuts. With just a handful of ingredients, it delivers bold flavour and…