Everyone loves a forage. It connects us to our ancestors, to each other, and to the land beneath our feet. It’s fascinating, grounding, and deeply rewarding. Along the way, we learn about habitats, seasonal rhythms, and the astonishing diversity of life — not just with our eyes, but with our noses, mouths, fingertips, and feet. It's a full-body way of remembering that we belong to the natural world.
You don’t need to travel far. Step out of your front door — chances are there’s something edible within five paces. From pavement cracks to ancient woodland, nature is everywhere, and it’s always offering something:
- Spring brings St George’s mushrooms, wild garlic, and fresh green shoots.
- Summer offers berries, nuts and buttery boletes.
- Autumn is the golden time for mushroom lovers — often 20 or 30 edible species in a single walk.
- Even winter yields oyster mushrooms, Velvet Shanks and frosty surprises if you know where to look.
Every walk becomes a new adventure — the landscape shifts when you learn to taste it.
My events begin with a wild welcome — perhaps a Gaultheria gin or pinecone cordial to spark the senses. Then we wander, slowly, attentively. I’ll guide you through species ID, habitat clues, and the hidden fungal networks under your feet. Sometimes, without warning, something clicks — a smell, a texture, a moment of stillness — and suddenly you feel it. That’s the real treasure: not just what you find, but when you realise you’re part of it. We finish with a fry-up of our discoveries: woodland to fork, shared around the stove or fire.
Foraging is also brilliant for groups. Hierarchies tend to melt away when someone helps you over a ditch or shouts “chanterelle!” from a thicket. Conversations flow. There’s a shared focus, a quiet excitement. It's a way of coming home to yourself and to others — without forcing anything.
So: boots on, basket in hand, hazel staff ready. Let’s see what the land wants to show us today.
See you in a woodland soon.
Col & Sadie — aka Forest Horizons