Cleavers / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Everything you need to safely identify the edible and medicinal Cleavers or Sticky Weed (Gallium Aparine) before heading out to forage some. Common Names Clivers, “bort”, bedstraw, goosegrass, catchweed, stickyweed, stickybud, robin-run-the-hedge, sticky willy, sticky willow, stickyjack, stickeljack, and grip grass.…
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Darwins Barberry / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Darwins Barberry Botanical Name Berberis darwinii Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Ranunculales Family – Berberidaceae Physical Characteristics for Darwins Barberry It is an evergreen thorny shrub growing to 3–4 m tall, with dense branches from ground level.…
GROUND ELDER (Aegopodium podagraria) How to Identify Ground Elder(Edible) Common namesGround Elder, Bishop’s Weed, Goutweed, Gout Wort, Snow-in-the-Mountain, English Masterwort, Wild Masterwort Botanical nameAegopodium podagraria Meaning of botanical nameFrom the Greek Aigos for “goat” and podo meaning foot. The second part of the name is Latin and is another reference…
Primrose / Spring / Edible Primrose is one of the first plants to produce edible wild flowers in spring, our favourite thing is to use them as a garnish or to crystallise them for future use. Common names Primrose, Common Primrose, Wild Primrose, English Primrose Botanical name Primula vulgaris Scientific…
Himalayan Balsam / Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Himalayan Balsam, Indian Balsam, Bobby Tops, Copper Tops, Gnome’s Hatstand, Ornamental Jewelweed, Policeman’s Helmet, Kiss-me-on-the-Mountain Botanical Name Impatiens glandulifera Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Rosales Family – Rosaeae Physical Characteristics for Himalayan Balsam Himalayan Balsam is an incredibly…
Wood Avens / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Wood Avens are one of those plants we walk over and past every time we go through a woodland, it’s amazing to learn the roots taste like cloves. Roots The roots, when crushed, smell similar to cloves Habitat…
Garlic Mustard / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Garlic Mustard, Hedge Garlic or Jack by the Hedge, whatever you call it, this edible wild green is a spicy mustard and garlic delight! Common names Hedge garlic, Jack-by-the-Hedge, Garlic Mustard, Poor Man’s Mustard, Garlic Root, Penny Hedge, Sauce Alone…
Rosebay Willowherb / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common names Rosebay Willowherb, Fireweed Botanical name Chamerion angustifolium Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Myrtales Family – Onagraceae Physical Characteristics for Rosebay Willowherb Leaves Starts as a rosette of lance-shaped leaves, which then becomes a tall stalk. The leaves…
Hairy Bittercress / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Botanical name Cardamine hirsuta Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Brassicales Family – Brassicaceae Physical Characteristics for Hairy Bittercress Hairy bittercress is a very successful plant and, in the UK, will go through its life cycle several times between…
Stinging Nettles / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Stinging Nettles are a plant that we’ve all been stung by at some point and, as such, probably remember! There are a few lookalikes, but none of them are dangerous – they just don’t taste as good. Common Names Stinging…
Silver Birch / Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Silver birch Botanical Name Betula pendula Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Fagales Family – Betulaceae Physical Characteristics for Silver birch Silver Birch is a deciduous tree growing from 15-30m tall with a canopy of 5-10m. It tends to have…
Hogweed / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Hogweed doesn’t sound like an edible plant, but it is and it’s one of my favourites! Common Names Hogweed, Cow parsnip Botanical Name Heracleum Sphondylium Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Apiales Family – Apiaceae Physical Characteristics of Common…
Hazel / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Common Names Hazel Botanical Name Corylus avellana Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Fagales Family – Betulaceae Physical Characteristics for Hazel The Common Hazel is typically found as a shrub reaching 2-8m tall where it’s coppiced, however when it’s…
Hawthorn / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Hawthorn is one of those plants that often blurs the line between medicine and food, it’s used for helping to regulate the heart and blood pressure, both for high and low blood pressure, but it can also be used in many…
Alexanders / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Welcome to our guide on Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), a fascinating and versatile wild edible that deserves a place in every forager’s repertoire. Often overlooked in favour of more well-known wild plants, Alexanders is a highly nutritious and flavoursome addition…
The Prince/ Summer / Autumn / Edible Indulge in the regal flavors of the Prince Mushroom (Agaricus augustus) as we embark on a culinary journey celebrating this esteemed delicacy. Join us in savoring the unique delights offered by nature’s culinary masterpiece. With its distinguished appearance and captivating aroma, the Prince…
Dandelion / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Dandelion is one of the UK’s most prolific weeds and most of us have spent some time digging this one up out of the garden, kicking and swearing at it. But if we look at it slightly differently it could help…
Cherry / Spring / Autumn / Edible Cherry trees are found in almost every town, village and city within the UK & they have edible parts in Spring and Autumn. Many are cultivated hybrids, but all are edible. Common Names Wild Cherry Botanical Name Prunus Cerasus Scientific Classification Kingdom –…
Blackberry / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Through this piece we’re going to take a deep dive into everything blackberry, often an overlooked fruit by us foragers because it’s too main stream. A bit like when you loved a band more before you could hear them on radio…
Sweet Cicely / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Sweet Cicely, cicely, myrrh, garden myrrh, sweet chervil Botanical Name Myrrhis Odorata Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Apiales Family – Apiaceae Physical Characteristics of Sweet Cicely Sweet Cicely is a perennial growing to 1m high and 1m…
Bilberries / Summer / Edible Bilberry Foraging is one of the first I ever did as a child, they go by many names such as whimberries, whortleberries, blaeberries & Wild Blueberries. They are beautiful wild ingredients and well worth hiking up to higher altitudes to find and enjoy. Common…
Japanese Knotweed / Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Japanese knotweed, Asian knotweed Botanical Name Fallopia japonica Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Caryophyllales Family – Polygonaceae Physical Characteristics of Japanese Knotweed Japanese knotweed is a hardy, herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial. Plants are fully dioecious, with all individuals of the…
Foraging is a great way to slow down, explore the outdoors, and make the most of what nature has to offer—right on your doorstep. Across the UK, there’s something to find in every season, whether it’s the zingy green shoots of spring, juicy summer berries, or earthy autumn mushrooms. This…
Quaking Aspen / Spring / Summer / Edible Quaking Aspen (Populus Tremuloides) is a Poplar species that tolerates cold conditions. It is a smaller tree than most Poplars, that grows in cool regions across the whole of Europe and west Asia. (The American Aspen is a different species). It is…
Black Bulgar / Summer / Autumn / Inedible The Black Bulgar (Bulgaria inquinans), also known as Black Jelly Drops, is a distinctive woodland fungus that grows on dead or dying hardwood, particularly Oak. Its dark, gelatinous, disc-like fruiting bodies often appear in clusters, giving fallen branches a glossy, almost tar-like…
Ergot / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Ergot (Claviceps purpurea) is a fascinating yet highly toxic fungus that grows on the seeds of grasses and cereal crops, particularly Rye. Recognised by its dark, horn-like growths protruding from grain heads, Ergot has a long and notorious history—once responsible for mass poisonings…
Trailing Bellflower / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Common Names Trailing bellflower, Serbian Bellflower. Botanical Name Campanula Poscharskyana Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Campanulales Family – Campanulaceae Physical Characteristics of Trailing Bellflower It is a low-growing, evergreen perennial plant, spreading freely by prostrate stems…
Let’s talk about something I sometimes worry about – hair loss. Sure, losing a bit of hair daily is perfectly normal (I used to panic every time I saw hair in my brush!). But when you notice more falling out, it’s totally natural to feel concerned. Here’s the wonderful news:…
There’s something utterly magical about a perfectly crafted mousse—that airy, velvety texture that simply melts in your mouth, leaving behind a symphony of flavours. Today, I’m absolutely thrilled to share with you my favourite twist on a classic dessert: a dandelion root coffee mousse recipe that will transform your after-dinner…
I love the purity of this wild kefir chardonnay recipe and its ability to pass as a plausible white wine replacement when you can’t, or don’t want to, drink a glass of regular wine with dinner. This is great when you want something to drink that feels indulgent and has…
This Fermented Borscht soup is built around traditional Polish kvass, a ferment made with rye bread, beetroot and water. Winter is a great time to be fermenting, as it brings new energy to stored veg at a time of year when fresh food is scarce. It is based on a…
This Fermented Rosehip Honey Jam is a beautiful sweet treat! Rosehips are an exceptionally rich source of Vitamin C – just a teaspoon of this jam can give you as much of this essential nutrient as 5 large oranges. You can’t eat the hips straight off the bush, but honey…