In this blog I’d like to highlight what to forage in an urban environment, looking at a few common species of edible plants and fungi that you might find in any urban or built up areas in the UK. There are actually a huge variety to look for, from the…
Tag: Urban
Red Valerian / Spring / Summer / Edible Red Valerian is one of those plants you see growing out of walls and cracked pavements, it’s lovely to look at and is edible, although quite bitter. It’s not related to the Valerian that’s used in sleepy tea though. Common Names Red…
Wild Plum / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Wild Plums are a common sight on these shores and as all members of the plum family are edible they are really beginner friendly. Typically appearing as a large bush or small tree, up to 8m in height. Wild Plums…
Wild Apple / Summer / Autumn / Edible The guide focuses on the Wild apple or Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) but truly wild apples are getting harder to find. Most of the apples that you’ll see in the wild are technically ‘feral’. They have grown from a seed or core…
Damsons / Summer / Autumn / Edible Damsons are a common shrub with edible plum-like fruits.  Closely related to Sloes, Bullaces and Greengages. Common Names Damsons, Damson Plum Botanical Name Prunus domestica subspecies insititia, or sometimes Prunus insititia Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Rosales Family – Rosaceae Physical…
Pheasant berry / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible A non-native member of the Honeysuckle family, it’s originally from China and the Himalaya’s and was introduced to the UK by the Victorians. The berries have a strong toffee like flavour. It’s a deciduous shrub-like plant. Common Names Pheasant berry,…
Horse Chestnut / All year round / Toxic The ‘nuts’ or ‘conkers’ of Horse Chestnut are a common and familiar sight in autumn, the tree was introduced to the UK from Turkey in the 16th century. Common Names      Horse Chestnut, Conker tree, Buckeye. Botanical Name Aesculus hippocastanum Scientific Classification Kingdom…
Buttercups / All Year round / Toxic There are many types of Buttercups, three species are very common in the UK. They can all be thought of as the same from a foraging point of view as they are all toxic. Common Names Buttercups, Creeping crazy, Devil’s guts, Lantern leaves,…
Lilac / Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Lilac flower, sweet lilac Botanical Name Syringa vulgaris and other species Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Lamiales Family – Oleaceae Physical Characteristics This is a deciduous shrub that blooms in spring with cones of wonderfully fragrant flowers. It can grow…
Yew Tree / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible / Toxic Yew Tree (Taxus Baccata) Identification An evergreen tree up to 20 meters tall but quite often used as hedging. Virtually all parts of the Yew Tree are potentially deadly poisonous. Common Names English Yew, Common Yew. Botanical Name…