One of the most commonly asked questions, when we are running courses, is ‘Will we find any Truffles today?’ unfortunately my answer is almost always no, through this guide we’re going to look at An Introduction to Truffles in case you happen to be lucky enough to stumble across some…
Category: summer
Ground Ivy / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Ground Ivy is one of Britain’s most common plants, it’s not a true Ivy but a member of the Mint family and it can be used as a substitute for Thyme, Mint or Rosemary. It’s an evergreen, ground…
Blackening Waxcap / Summer / Autumn / Inedible Step into the captivating world of the Blackening Waxcap, scientifically known as Hygrocybe conica, as we explore the intriguing qualities of this enigmatic mushroom. In this blog post, we embark on a journey to uncover the distinctive features and fascinating transformations that…
Douglas Fir / All year round / Edible Douglas fir is a large, naturalised, fast growing, evergreen tree. It was bought to the UK in 1827 by the botanist David Douglas, whom it’s named after. It’s considered the best tasting edible conifer. They typically look like a Christmas tree…
Blackcurrant / Summer / Edible An easy to identify member of the Gooseberry family with edible fruits. It’s a medium-sized shrub, growing up to 1.5m tall. Common Names Blackcurrant, Cassis Botanical Name Ribes nigrum Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Saxifragales Family – Grossulariaceae Physical Characteristics for Blackcurrant Leaves…
Vetch / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Vetch is a member of the Pea or Fabaceae family, it’s one of the largest families in nature and there are around 240 Vetches worldwide. The most common in the UK is Common Vetch (Vicia sativa). They can sometimes be hard…
Wild Gooseberry / Summer / Edible Wild Gooseberry is a thorny shrub or bush, up to 1.5 metres high. It’s difficult to know whether the plants you find are truly wild or if they are feral. Gooseberries were cultivated a lot in the past. Common Names Wild Gooseberry, European Gooseberry,…
Broom / Spring / Summer/ Edible Broom is the less aggressive little brother to Gorse, the two look similar and both have some nice edible and medicinal parts. Common Names Broom, common broom, Scotch broom Botanical Name Cytius scoparius/Sarothamnus scoparius Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Fabales Family – Fabaceae…
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…
Dyers Mazegill / Summer/ Autumn / Inedible Prepare to enter the realm of nature’s artistic marvels as we delve into the world of the Dyers Mazegill (Phaeolus schweinitzii), an inedible mushroom that captivates with its intricate beauty. Join us on a journey of discovery as we explore the fascinating characteristics…