Nature’s Pharmacy; Food Foraging for Wild Edibles
DUE TO GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES SURROUNDING COVID-19, OUR SEASONAL FORAGING TOURS ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO FORAGING AND DISCOVERING MORE WILD FOODS NATURE, AS WILDLIFE INCREASES LATER IN THE YEAR, FROM MAY 2020 ONWARDS.
Wild food foraging is a great outdoor activity suitable for all levels of experience; with adults & children.
One to One and Groups
Foraging seasonal, medicinal herbs
Tours and tasters
{2 separate categories here} – private 1:1 individual classes – join a group near you enquire for prices
2 hrs £12.50 per person
PlantArt foraging + natural design – 1 hr – £5.00 (first sheet) Additional sheets £2.50. Take home your own personal seasonal keep-sake to frame.
{Combined} Buy Tour and PlantArt together and SAVE! – 3 hrs- £15.00
Kitchen Buddy Foraging for Friends and Family
Talk + Walk + Food
Group size: for up to 15 adults and 5 children
Time: 2.5 hrs approx.
A group preparation wild food dining experience, with a personal touch: includes 4-5 seasonally inspired tasting plates including, canapes, amuse bouches, drinks and desserts. Each course with its own individual flair.
Please allow up to 4 hrs for our group to set up, start and for us to final pack down.
£180.00 [enquire]
Forage Walk participant Testimonials
“Thank you, I enjoyed that; it was really good! I’ve been walking around (at work) and found about 20 new plants which I’d thought were ‘weeds’ and I’ve told my staff!” Kenneth Condon (Gardener & Landscaper) Raw Fest UK Festival.
“Thank you, this morning has been great fun. I have learned such a lot about plants and using them.” E. Heverin. (local guide)
“Thank you for a wonderful morning of facts & foraging; have opened my eyes to a whole world of healthiness.” A. Forrest.
“Amazing! I loved it! Wonderful to learn about plants I walk past every day and never noticed. Now they’ve become new friends.” S. Colbert.
“Had a great morning and afternoon – thank you very much!” Michael Pavanelli.
“Really inspiring. I will try to learn more & maybe join a group (favourite parts were) Eating blackberries & picking nettles without being stung” S. Scott (Into The Wild Festival 2016).
To arrange seasonal foraging walks in your local area, contact Theresa here.
Foraging Collection Rules and Safety
The Rule of Thirds
When out collecting, always it is important to leave at least 1\3 of the plant remaining, so that the living parts can multiply; primarily the stems, leaves and roots. It’s always good to remember that this is a living organism, be it any part of a plant and to treat it respectfully. In some cultures and beliefs, it is common to also ‘ask’ a plant prior to picking, to check that the most edible and ripest parts are alright. This means to collect carefully and consciously, so that it will still be able to bear food for another season and year. This secures the plant’s life and it will remain fruitful for others and ourselves, when we can return another time, to find some in that particular place.
Take a good guide book
Invest in a good wild food foraging guide book, to accompany you on journeys and to familiarise yourself with plants in between trips and outings. Stick a sticky note tab in the plants you find and already know for immediate reference.
Theresa recommends: Food For Free by Richard Mabey
Safety Cautions
- Don’t pick or eat anything that you don’t know to be edible, or if you feel unsure.
- Speak to other foragers\nature enthusiasts, attend my guided walks and investigate online, to become more familiar with the few inedible\poisonous species to avoid.
- Collect from safe, clean areas where possible and not by roadsides where there may be excess toxins or dog walking areas. The risk of contamination is minimal when applying these rules and collecting safely.
- Prior to consumption, you may wish to rinse your plants well, to prevent any contamination.
Common poisonous species to avoid
Hemlock
Giant Hogweed
Yew berry seeds \ pips
Certain mushrooms \ toadstools (please refer to a Fungi guide).
For a full list, view more Foraging & Wildlife activities click here.
Booking Foraging with Theresa Webb
Contact Theresa Webb