No. 21 Forage for wild food

A boy carrying a bag of wild garlic at Prior Park in Somerset | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Foraging is a hobby that involves searching for – and eating – plants, herbs and fruit. You can hunt in hedgerows, trees and bushes to find different types of wild food. Find out what to look for and when to pick it with our guide.

Foraging

You can find wild food almost anywhere in nature. When you’re outdoors, keep your eyes peeled for snacks in the trees, in the hedgerows and on the ground. Bushes might be full of blackberries. Are there any fruit trees with apples, plums or pears waiting to be picked? Maybe there’s sweet-smelling wild garlic underfoot? See what you can find but check with an adult before eating anything, in case it's not safe.

You may also spot other hungry mouths looking for treats. Are the birds feasting on berries in the bushes? Maybe insects are enjoying a meal of fallen apples. See what other creatures you spot nibbling and be sure to leave enough food behind for them.

Seasonal treats

You can forage for wild food at any time of year. Just be aware that in seasons like autumn, the hedges and fields fill with food. In others, like winter, there is less to find.

In May and June, there will mainly be herbs and plants to forage. Did you know you can eat the leaves of a lime tree? Fresh clover leaves can also be eaten but leave plenty for the bees, they love it. Dandelion, sweet violet and wild garlic can be found too.

July, August and September bring tasty treats such as blueberries, garlic mustard, blackberries, apples, raspberries and of course, the all-round favourite: strawberries.

In October, November and December, you can pick tasty nuts. Munch on beech nuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts (these need to be cooked first) and walnuts.

What to look for when foraging

Take an adult with you to help you pick the right plants.

Hazelnuts grow in a green husk beneath the leaves of the plant | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts grow in green cases under the leaves of a hazel bush. They can be picked when they are green and taken indoors to ripen. All you need is a warm place to put them. When the nuts turn brown and are safe to eat, their case feels like paper and falls off easily. With the help of an adult, you could blend them to make hazelnut spread.

Wild garlic

You will smell wild garlic before you see it. The plants have big green leaves, tiny white flowers and a very strong smell. Wild garlic grows in woodland, often spread out like a carpet on the floor. When picking the leaves be sure to leave the bulb in the ground, so the plant can grow again next year. You could make wild garlic pesto or use the leaves in a salad.

Close-up of a female orange tip butterfly nectaring on a dandelion at Brockhampton Estate in Herefordshire. — Orange tip butterfly on a dandelion | © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

Dandelions

The yellow flowers of a dandelion are full of nutrients and are easy to recognise when they are in bloom. Before the flower appears, you can eat a young dandelion's leaves in a salad. Or, pick some of the flowers and use the petals to give a floral flavour to jam or cakes. You could even sprinkle the petals into pancake mixture.

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Cooking your collection

Many things found when foraging can be eaten straight from the tree or bush. Some taste better when they’re thrown into a salad or soaked in hot water to make a fruity tea. You can also add foraged ingredients to a recipe and bake them in the oven.

Be aware

Only eat what you recognise. If you don’t know what it is, don’t eat it.
Toadstools are definitely poisonous, but so are some mushrooms. It’s best to avoid picking both unless you’re with an adult who knows which mushrooms are safe.
Watch out for prickles and brambles in the hedgerows.
Bees and wasps also love the sweet fruit and berries that can be found in the wild. Try not to disturb or scare them and don't get stung.
Take some of what you find but leave enough for animals and insects to visit, and for the plant to seed. It's best to only collect from areas where the plant is growing in lots of places.