Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat. Sound familiar? Food delivery services are synonymous with urban life. But there is a whole world of food out there, and it is up for grabs without running up debt on the credit card.
Food is all around us, whether you’re out on a trail or at your local park, we’re surrounded, tasty plants. However, there is one rule. Do not go out and start grabbing at greenery without knowing what is what.
Jamie Dakota, founder of Howl Bushcraft and seasoned veteran in sourcing safe edible plants, walked us through some of the major dos and don’ts of foraging in the UK.
What is edible?
Whilst we were with Jamie, he pointed us towards some plants, with names suited to a mediaeval alchemy book. For example, woundwort, it sounds disgusting, but brewed into a surprisingly pleasant cuppa that had the same bitter, earthy undertones of a green tea.
“It’s all about knowing how to identify what is what, when you look out into the brush, most people just see a whole load of green, the key is being able to break out of that green blindness, trying to recognise the different textures, shades and flowers that define an edible plant.”
There are plenty of great resources online that can help you build up a knowledge of what plants are safe to eat and when they are in season. The Woodland Trust has a year round guide to what is available and how to forage for it sustainably.
Being sure that you’re identifying plants correctly whilst bushcrafting is essential, some plants may look similar, but making a mistake on what they are can be deadly.
“You’ll come across plants that are of the same family, for instance, you’ll get lots of stuff around here that seem like carrots. The issue with that is you’ve got things like parsnips, but you’ve also got hemlock water dropwort, which is the most poisonous plant in the UK.”
Will foraging hurt the environment?
Another part of foraging that Jamie emphasised the importance of was making sure you are environmentally friendly.
“In terms of being mindful of nature and looking after wildlife, we never want to take more than the forest can provide. Only take stuff where there is lots of it, and never take more than a third of what is there. Then in the worst case scenario where another forager comes behind you and takes more, you’ll always leave something behind.”
Foraging is a fulfilling way to find your next meal, provided it’s done with care and respect for nature. If you’re thinking of trying it out, make sure you know what you’re looking for. You can get the help of guides like Jamie, or use online resources to help understand what is edible. Never go out and eat something you’re unsure of.
