Yes, I mean eating snails. Known as ‘l’escargot’ by our French neighbours, snails are also eaten as a luxury dish in India, Nigeria, Portugal and Asia. Considering how much easier and safer it is to collect them compared to pegging it after a leaping deer Bear Grylls style, you would do well not to turn…

Right, I’m going out on a slightly less than usual limb here for this blog. Readers may not have realised that underpinning much of what I write about foraging is a slow yet powerful current of land activism. My intention is that once we are directly connected to the land by our meals it comes…

Hi all and welcome back after the summer ‘break’ (who’s kidding when you have children). Here I’m going to show you how you can get out from Sept onwards and find free, delicious, safe and nutritious food from British hedgerows and waysides. Chances are you’ve been walking past some of these every day on the…

Fungi Forays, back from last year as requested by popular demand! With mycologist Phil Austin. Learn to identify fungi, take spore prints and hopefully find edible fungi at Ashridge estate on these half day courses (family course is 2 hours to allow for shorter attention spans!). Sun 16th Oct: Fungi Foray (Adults 16 plus) Half…

Hello all. My September events (booked in so far, more to come!) are below. If you are looking to learn about autumn foraging, with some lovely tasters included, now is your chance! SEPTEMBER Fri 16th: Foraging Course with Tapas Tasters Half day course identifying wild edibles, with 3 tapas tasters on the way. Begins and…

There’s a reason why children are like heat seeking missiles when it comes to sweets. Those tangy, acid-sweet flavours that are so destructive to their dental array are only mimicking the natural flavours of fresh wild fruits, stuffed with vitamins and minerals to help them grow strong, (and once that happens you can make them…

The name ‘Common Hogweed’ conjures up visions of ‘Me mate Dave down the pub’ but this bristly woodland margin plant is anything but. Yes, it is a cousin of the phytotoxic Giant Hogweed – you know, the one with ginormous leaves 1m long with skin-blistering sap once said skin is exposed to sunlight?! However, this…

You’ve probably trodden on this humble herb a thousand times, or tried to eradicate it from your lawn. Like the first pioneers discovering America, this is a pioneer plant – tough, coping with most soils, springing back from punishment by lawnmower and boot. Did you know it is also incredibly useful, both as a food…

Just thought I’d share this tapas recipe I dreamed up using young green Reedmace flowerheads from Astral Park. I made a batter with sparkling water (no ice – no fridge on the boat), 1 egg and normal plain flour, sieving the flour well. I have to admit I preferred them with mayo in the ends…