About

Explore the bounty of the countryside with this fascinating Introduction to Foraging Course, where participants will gather and prepare their own wild ingredients while gaining knowledge, skills, and experience from expert forager and landscape ecologist Adrian Boots.

Skills Covered:

How to forage sustainably within the law and with good practice

How to safely collect, prepare, and cook common seasonal wild foods

How to identify common seasonal edible and non-edible plants and fungi, and the habitats in which to find them

The British countryside is brimming with delicious wild ingredients that can elevate any dish, but novice foragers might feel apprehensive about getting started. It’s crucial to know what you’re picking and ensure it’s safe to eat. This course offers a day of foraging under the expert guidance of Adrian Boots.

The morning begins with a walk through the beautiful countryside surrounding Vale House Kitchen, where participants will pick their own ingredients and learn from Adrian about landscape features, habitats, associated trees and plant species, and their relationships and seasonality with wild food. This walk also provides a fascinating insight into the history of foraging, from ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors to modern practices, including ecology, conservation, safety, and relevant rules and regulations.

After the foraging walk, participants return to Vale House Kitchen for a fantastic seasonal foragers' lunch. The afternoon is spent in the classroom, transforming the freshly gathered ingredients into delicious recipes. Participants will take home plenty of their own creations, along with a course booklet filled with recipes and tips.