Wild Food

Many edible mushrooms have symbiotic relationships with birch, but the tree itself can provide a delicious product . . . This tree’s sobriquet ‘silver’ is a comparatively recent invention – often … [Read more...] about Silver Birch

Sloes are a frequent ‘by-catch’ on forays and the next season the resulting drink makes the perfect end to a chilly expedition… The fruit of the blackthorn is justly famous as a gin flavouring and … [Read more...] about Wild food – Sloe

February 2009 – Although not the greatest wild vegetable, bittercress is available at a point in the year when few fungi are available... This is one of the first plants to start growing in early … [Read more...] about Wild food – Hairy Bittercress

September 2009 – Elderberries are a frequent ‘by-catch’ for the autumn mushroom forayer... Even the most confirmed urbanite will instantly recognise the heavy dense clusters of black berries … [Read more...] about Wild food – Elderberries

The self-seeded descendents of cultivated apples abound in hedgerows. Often mistakenly called 'crab apples', these sports are generally too tart to eat, but they make a brilliant base for a savoury … [Read more...] about Wild food – Crab Apple

January 2010 – Although there are few wild mushrooms available in the depths of winter, you can keep your hand in by gathering cockles on the shore Our Neanderthal ancestors must have struggled to … [Read more...] about Wild food – Cockles