What is Foraging? Your Guide to Gathering Safely, Legally & Sustainably.

If you have ever picked a blackberry from a hedgerow during a crisp autumn walk, you have already conjugated the verb to forage. Whether you say "I foraged," "we forage," or simply "I am going foraging," the action remains a fundamental human instinct!

But beyond the casual berry-picking, what is Foraging?

In its simplest form, foraging is the act of gathering food without paying for it from public outside spaces and land where you have permission to be. It is the art of finding the wild larder hiding in plain sight—from remote woodlands to the cracks in a city pavement.

Defining the Hunt: What Does It Mean to Forage?

While the dictionary definition focuses on the search for provisions:

forage...

(of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions.

Seasoned experts and chefs see it as a deeper connection to the land. It isn't just about "free food"; it is about understanding the ecosystem and our place in it. As experts from all walks of life—from Michelin chefs like René Redzepi to historical military strategists like Sun Tzu—have noted, 'foraging' is about optimising what you have by looking deeper at your environment.

Where is Foraging Done?

Foraging is not restricted to deep, rural forests. In the UK, our landscape is diverse, and so is our wild food. Our temperate climate offers a year-round harvest. From coastal seaweeds to wild garlic in ancient English woodlands, the UK is a goldmine for the gatherer.

• Coastal: Much of the UK coastline is owned by the Crown Estate which does allow foraging in most places (always check your local rules).

• Urban: Carparks, public footpath edges, riverbanks.

• Suburban: Driveways, paths, weedy borders, and garden beds.

• Woodland: Coniferous, broadleaf, or mixed.

• Countryside: Arable crops, livestock hedges, and hedgerows.

The Secret of Understanding Micro-Climates when Foraging

Most areas, especially urban and suburban ones, offer distinct micro-climates. In very small distances there can be several habitats. Think of a south-facing wall against black tarmac resulting in sun-loving plants; then, around the corner, a windy alleyway funneling the north wind, meaning only certain wind-tolerant plants will grow. Even an area of poor drainage or compacted soil will yield a specific plant community.

Who Forages (And Why)?

Foraging has moved from a niche survivalist skill to a mainstream lifestyle choice. On my courses, I have met everyone from solo young students to elderly couples, and from those out of work to affluent professionals.

According to recent food trends, interest in wild food has surged, with reports noting a massive increase in searches for "foraging courses" post-pandemic. People are seeking both a connection to nature AND a self-reliance that our supermarket-dependent lifestyle cannot provide.

Over twenty years of teaching; here are some of the reasons for learning to forage that I have identified... Can you spot your 'why'?

1. Free Food - in times of hardship, you can't get better than free food!
2. Healthy Food (Wild plants growing in unfarmed, mineral rich soil often have higher levels of nutrients and minerals) Eg. Dandelion leaves have on average twelve times the vitamin A. of a lettuce leaf and six times the vitamin C.
3. Suits our desire to live more locally - think food meters not food miles.
4. Future-proofs you against supply chain issues.

What are YOUR reasons for learning to forage?

My Story: A Lifetime of Gathering

I started my own journey 45 years ago. I was a bit of an "abandoned child," left to my own devices for days, sheltering in the plants of the back garden when I was locked out by accident, nibbling on the weeds and hyper-focusing on the woodlice in the compost heap.

After having my own children and developing "peak-oil paranoia" (due to reading lots of Permaculture Magazine in the nineties!), I rediscovered my earlier self-reliance for the sake of my children’s future. Over two decades, that journey to make my family self-reliant turned into a vocation. It wasn't just about the free food; it was about the sense of empowerment—that I could collect and process into food, medicine, and toiletries pretty much all that we needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Foraging Legal?

This is the most common question for beginners. In the UK, the answer is generally yes, provided you follow specific laws regarding personal use.

[Link to Legal Blog]

Is Foraging Sustainable?

A valid question. What if everyone is out foraging? I recommend using hunting and foraging as one of what in my book; 'How To Be Self-Reliant, Naturally', I call a 'three-part food security system'.  Alongside growing your own and bulk buying/storing foodstuffs.

[Link to Conservation Law Blog]

Is Foraging Safe?

This depends on how you approach your learning journey—are you "gung ho" and full of self-confidence, or are you building up a repertoire slowly? Misidentification can be fatal, so you must learn a proper identification process to massively reduce the margin of error.

Your Next Steps into Foraging

1. Read at least three books: Use books relevant to your location to allow for cross-referencing.

2. Take an online course: Build your theoretical knowledge and visual identification skills from home, check out MY online foraging course here.

3. Book an in-person walk: Nothing beats seeing, touching, and smelling the plants with an expert guide. Once you have the book theory, book an attended foraging walk or course to develop your knowledge further.

Hope to see you at a course or chat with you inside my online school soon!

In the meantime, why not read my FREE foraging book?

Grab my FREE Foraging Book HERE