Scarlet Caterpillar Club / Summer / Autumn / Edible The Scarlet Caterpillar Club, scientifically known as Cordyceps militaris, is a mesmerizing fungus that captivates naturalists and foragers alike. With its vibrant, neon-orange club-shaped fruiting bodies, this unique species emerges from the depths of the earth, often attached to the pupae…
Tag: summer
Almond Mushroom / Summer / Autumn / Edible In the world of mushroom foraging, the Almond Mushroom (Agaricus subrufescens) is a fascinating species with its distinctive scent and bountiful growth. Whether you’re an aspiring mycologist or a nature enthusiast, learning to identify this delightful mushroom can be an exciting journey.…
Amethyst Chanterelle / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Amethyst Chanterelle (Cantharellus amethysteus) is a captivating mushroom known for its striking purple hue and delightful flavour. This identification guide aims to help mushroom enthusiasts and foragers recognise this unique fungus in the wild. Found in deciduous and coniferous…
Good King Henry / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Good King Henry originates from the Alps but will be found in much of Europe. Apparently it was the Romans who first brought it to Britain. It’s an easy to identify plant, that makes a great, nutritious spinach substitute. Common…
Water Pepper / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Water Pepper is a plant of the Knotweed or Polygonaceae family, that was previously cultivated as a pepper alternative. It doesn’t strike you as anything special to look at as it’s just growing in the water, but when you grab…
Field Bindweed / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Toxic Field bindweed is a persistent and troublesome perennial weed, much hated by gardeners. Its is a toxic plant in the Morning Glory family, it’s generally 20–100 cm tall and it trails or climbs up other plants. Common Names…
Red Campion / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Red Campion is a common, native wildflower. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant that produces beautiful, bright pink flowers, which bloom in spring and early summer. Common Names Robin hood, Robin-run-in-the-hedge, Adder’s flower Botanical Name Silene…
Elm / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible There are many species of Elm such as the English Elm (Ulmus procera), Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) and Field Elm (Ulmus minor). All were sadly affected by the fungal Dutch elm disease which came to the UK in the…
Henbane / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Henbane is a poisonous plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) it is native to temperate Europe, and naturalised in Great Britain and Ireland. It’s a shrubby biennial that grows up to 1m tall. The whole plant is very hairy, very sticky…
Cowberry / Summer / Autumn / Edible Cowberry, also known as Lingonberry, is a brilliant little edible fruit that isn’t heavily harvested in the UK. However in the Nordic countries this one is commercially harvested from the wild and can be found in lots of products and menus, it’s lovely…