Entries by Gavin
3 Things You Can Forage For In September
Sweet Chestnuts (Castanea sativa) Sweet chestnuts are autumn’s treat, look for spiky green cases on the woodland floor. Crack them open for glossy brown nuts, perfect for roasting or adding to seasonal dishes. They’re a bit fiddly, but totally worth it! Penny Buns (Boletus edulis) Penny Bun (Boletus edulis). The penny bun, aka porcini, is […]
3 Things You Can Forage For In August
Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) First up is hazelnuts (Corylus avellana). So much sweeter and more than their shop-bought equivalent, not to mention free! Can you believe that at the time of writing they cost over £20 a kilo, but if you get there before the squirrels they’re absolutely free! You can eat them raw from the […]
3 Things You Can Forage For In June
Elderflower (Sambucus nigra) Elderflowers are in full bloom in June and are easy to spot with their creamy white, fragrant clusters. They’re fantastic for making cordials, syrups, and even elderflower fritters. Foraging tip: Only take a few heads from each tree to leave plenty for wildlife and later fruiting. Wild Strawberries (Fragaria vesca) These tiny, […]
Dandelion Flower Honey (Vegan)
This tastes a lot like honey, so is a brilliant substitute for vegans or anyone else avoiding honey. I prefer using the whole dandelion head. Not only is this quicker and easier, but I think the bitterness from the green parts of the dandelion adds to the complexity of the flavour of the finished honey. […]
3 Things You Can Forage For In May
First up is Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum). The stems are nice and chunky in May, hollow and grooved on the outside. They smell and taste like a floral version of celery and I’ll be eating them with salad cream and chopping them into stews. I found out recently that if you cut the stems into 5mm […]
From Battlefield to Foraging Field: Military Precision in Wild Food Identification
Discover how military training principles can enhance your foraging skills. Learn battle-tested techniques for safe and accurate wild food identification.
3 Things You Can Forage For In April
First up is Ground Elder leaves (Aegopodium podagraria). Its primary common name comes from the fact that it grows low to the ground, and the leaves look a little like Elder tree leaves (although the two are not related). It has a strong “herby” smell, so I use it in salads, as a garnish for […]
3 Things You Can Forage For In March
First up is Hawthorn leaves (Crataegus monogyna). The leaves appear in early spring and have a distinctive, lobed shape. I’ll be eating the leaves raw in salads, and as a snack straight from the tree. My favourite use for them is to flash fry them in hot oil (10 seconds max) and sprinkle with sea […]
All About Chickweed
Chickweed is nutrient and medicinal component rich, and grows just about everywhere, and in large quantities. It tastes like a mild rocket leaf raw, and is so freely available that it’s a surprise that we don’t use it more. Habitat Stellaria media is widespread in North America, Europe and Asia. A cool-season annual plant native […]