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.…
Journal
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. Physical characteristics of Wood Avens Leaves Strawberry-like leaves grow in…
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 Why not check out our Rosebay willowherb foraging video? Physical Characteristics for Rosebay Willowherb Leaves Starts as a rosette of lance-shaped…
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…
If you’re looking to create a dish that combines earthy, umami-rich flavours with a touch of foraged goodness, this recipe is perfect for you. Featuring Jelly Ear mushrooms soaked in soy sauce and paired with fluffy rice and tender Hogweed, it’s a simple yet elegant dish that showcases the…
Say hello to a wild twist on traditional kimchi—Hogweed kimchi! This recipe takes young Hogweed shoots and turns them into a tangy, spicy, and deeply flavourful ferment. It’s all about blending bold Korean flavours with the earthy charm of foraged ingredients. Perfect for adventurous eaters and fermentation fans, this kimchi…
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…
Sulphur knight / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Common Names Sulphur knight, Gas works mushroom, Stinker, Gas agaric Scientific Name Tricholoma sulphureum Family Tricholomataceae Commonly known as the Knights Click here to learn more about the Knight family. Habitat Ectomycorrhizal with deciduous broadleaf trees, mainly oaks and Beech…
Devils fingers / Summer / Autumn / Inedible Scientific Name Clathrus archeri Common Names Devils fingers, Octopus Stinkhorn Family Phallaceae Known commonly as the Stinkhorns. Habitat Rare in the UK only appearing in southern areas, but its distribution is widespread over the globe. Preferring warmer tropical regions and Native to…
Pipe club / Autumn / Inedible Scientific Name Typhula fistulosa, synonyms Clavaria fistulosa Common Names Pipe club Family Typhulaceae A type of Clavaroid fungi, which is one of the most basic forms of fungi fruit body and has arisen numerous times through fungi evolution. Habitat Saprophytic, growing in broad-leaf woodlands…
Butterbur / Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Rain Hat, Petasites, Purple Butterbur, Bog Rhubarb, Pestilence Wort, Plague Root, Edlin, Devil’s Hat and Butterfly-dock, Fuki (Japan). Botanical Name Petasites Hybridus Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Asterales Family – Asteraceae Physical Characteristics for Butterbur Leaves Roughly heart shaped,…
Cloudberry/ Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible An interesting perennial relative of Blackberries and Raspberries, with striking orange fruits. It is native across cooler temperate to boreal regions of the world. In the UK they are mainly found in higher altitudes. The English name makes sense when you notice…
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…
Bilberries don’t hang around for long, so when you find a patch, it’s worth picking a few extra for something special. This bilberry whiskey is simple to make, keeps well, and tastes even better when shared after a day outdoors. It’s strong, a little sweet, and full of wild flavour—a…