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Foraging: what to look out for each month

Foraging for wild food connects us with nature and gives us a reason to get adventurous in the kitchen! See our year-round guide to sustainable foraging: what's in season and how to prepare and eat it.

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Foraging in November and December: edible wild plants

Don't be put off by short days and cold, damp weather as winter arrives. There are still wild foraging treats to brighten your days. Here are some favourites.

Rory Morrow  •  26 Nov 2024

Visiting woods

Foraging recipes

From flowers and fruits to leaves, nuts and seeds. Here are our favourite foraging recipes using plants from the UK countryside. 

Visiting woods

Responsible foraging guidelines

Follow our responsible foraging guidelines and you can collect wild food without harming woods or wildlife.

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Foraging in October: berries and nuts to find this autumn

Our top foraging finds for October with top tips on where to find, when and how to use them.

Helen Keating  •  26 Oct 2017

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Foraging in October: which wild mushrooms can you eat?

Explore the world of foraging with these top wild fungi picking and cooking tips. Here are five edible fungi that are easy to identify.

Helen Keating  •  29 Oct 2018

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Foraging in July: nature's best summer food for foraging

Here are our top six edible wild plants to look out for in July, with tips on what to look for and how to harvest, cook and eat them.

Helen Keating  •  08 Jul 2021

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Foraging in September: edible wild plants and berries to look out for

Ten edible wild plants and mushrooms to forage for in September, with tips on what to look for and how to gather and eat them.

Rory Morrow  •  25 Sep 2024

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How to forage wild garlic and make wild garlic pesto

What's that smell? It's wild garlic season! Find out how to make the best of it with our foraging guide and recipes.

Laura Cottam  •  26 Apr 2019

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Foraging in May: a guide to wild herbs and other edible plants

Find out which wild plants you can forage in May. Learn about edible plants with our quick identification guide and tips on how to find, eat and prepare them.

Helen Keating  •  08 May 2019

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Foraging in March: spring's edible plants

Spring has arrived and the woods and hedgerows are about to burst with edible spring greens, shoots and flowers. Find out which ones you can eat and what to do with them.

Helen Keating  •  28 Mar 2018

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Foraging in January: winter fruits and nuts

You can still forage for tasty treats when it’s cold outside and the leaves have fallen. Here's our list of fruits and nuts to look out for in winter.

Helen Keating  •  16 Jan 2018

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Foraging in August: find food this summer

Blackberries, rowan berries and crab apples are all ripening this month. Here are six wild edible plants to collect with top tips and recipes on how to use them.

Helen Keating  •  15 Aug 2017

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Foraging in June: edible flowers, plants and herbs

From fresh flowers to tender leaves, here are some edible plants to forage in June. These are my top tips on where to find them, and how to turn them into something tasty.

Helen Keating  •  24 Jun 2021

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Foraging in April: edible wild plants to harvest

April is the time to look out for fresh new greens and herbs to give your food a seasonal springtime boost. Here are seven easy-to-identify edible herbs and plants to look out for.

Helen Keating  •  27 Apr 2023

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Foraging in February: mushrooms, nettles and early flowers

Even in February, green shoots and early spring flowers are starting to appear. And they’re growing quickly. Here are some spring plants and winter fungi to look out for.

Helen Keating  •  22 Feb 2018

Trees woods and wildlife

Pine marten

Shy, curious and playful. The pine marten is a stealthy, acrobatic hunter that relies on the cover of woods and trees for its foraging missions. It’s critically endangered in England and Wales as much of its woodland habitat has been lost.

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Seven edible weeds: foraging in your garden

If you're a fan of foraging but missing roaming the woods and hedgerows right now, go in search of some edible plants that are closer to home. Here are seven edible garden weeds to look out for.

Helen Keating  •  23 Apr 2020

Trees woods and wildlife

Why bats need woods and trees

The UK is home to 18 species of bats, all of which are protected by law. This protection extends to their breeding and resting places. Hedgerows, tree lines and watercourses are important to the roosting, foraging and navigation needs of bats.   

Trees woods and wildlife

Rook

Raucous relative of the crow. After a day foraging in the fields, rooks head to the trees en masse; a noisy congregation settling down for a good night’s sleep among the branches.

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Foraging at Easter: make a wreath and other home decorations

Brighten up your home and bring spring indoors with these easy ideas for Easter decorations using wild foraged plants.

Helen Keating  •  07 Apr 2022

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Foraging for natural Christmas decorations

Transform your home into a woodland wonderland this Christmas with our easy ideas for festive, foraged home decor. 

Helen Keating  •  05 Dec 2022

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Rowan jelly: how to find and make it

Rowan, with its fiery red berries, is a tree that's difficult to miss at the moment. If you want to try foraging this is a great way to start. Get top identification tips and a step-by-step recipe on how to make rowan jelly.

Helen Keating  •  13 Aug 2018

Trees woods and wildlife

Wild garlic

A delicious sign of the old, wild garlic is also known as ramsons. Look for them in shady woods where they coat the woodland floor in spring.

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First signs of autumn

Discover when autumn starts and the signs of the season – look for leaves changing colour, autumn fruits and seeds, migrating birds, ivy flowering and incredible fungi.

Danielle Wesley  •  31 Aug 2019

Trees woods and wildlife

Deathcap

Silent assassin and killer of kings. The deathcap has been used as a murder weapon for millennia.

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The best elderberry recipes

Make the most of dark, fragrant elderberries while they’re in season. Try our favourite elderberry recipes.

Helen Keating  •  28 Sep 2022

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When to pick sloes and how to make sloe gin

It's traditional to make sloe gin in autumn, ready for the coming winter. Here's an easy and delicious recipe for you to try, with our top sloe picking tips. It takes a couple of months to mature, so if you make it soon it'll be ready by Christmas.

Helen Keating  •  15 Sep 2020

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Can you eat crab apples? Three favourite crab apple recipes

With their terrifically tart and tangy flavour, crab apples are a favourite foraged food.

Helen Keating  •  24 Oct 2018

Trees woods and wildlife

Blue tit

The blue tit might be famed for its bright, bold plumage, but it’s much more than just a pretty face. Spot it performing acrobatic displays while on the hunt for juicy caterpillars.

Trees woods and wildlife

Hedgerows

Small but mighty, hedges are an essential refuge for wildlife, clean our air, capture carbon, reduce flooding and give clues to historic land management. Find out more.

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6 migrant birds to spot in the UK this winter

Not all birds head south for the winter. Some head straight for our shores to escape even colder conditions back home. Here are some of the winter birds you'll only find in the UK in winter.

Charlotte Varela  •  21 Jan 2025

Trees woods and wildlife

Tree pipit

Small, unassuming, brown. This woodland edge insect-muncher is often overlooked. But what it lacks in looks it makes for with its belting song.

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Our blog

Find recent news, foraging tips, wildlife guides and more on our blog.

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How to make bramble whisky: recipe for blackberry liqueur

Read our simple and easy recipe for this delicious foraged blackberry liqueur, or bramble whisky. You'll love this homemade tipple, it's sure to impress!

George Anderson  •  12 Aug 2019

Trees woods and wildlife

Heathland and moorland

Shaped by our ancestors for life’s essentials. Open heathlands provided grazing, foraging, and vital materials. Find out how they support specialist wildlife and form mosaics with other open and wooded habitats.

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Otters in our woods - where to find them

Did you know the clean rivers and shrubby banks of some of our woods are ideal habitat for otters? Follow our top tips for otter-spotting and find a waterside woodland near you.

Charlie Mellor  •  02 Feb 2021

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Badgers: what do they eat? And other facts

Get advice on their feeding habits, from nuts to mealworms, and other top facts.

Helen Keating  •  27 Aug 2019

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How to increase biodiversity in your garden

Every garden has the potential to be a haven for wildlife. From planting for pollinators to embracing a little mess, here are some easy ways to increase biodiversity in your garden.

Charlotte Varela  •  07 Apr 2023

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Raw rosehip syrup: how to make and use

Rosehips really became popular during World War II when fresh produce was scarce. Here are our tips for finding and cooking up these surprisingly tasty fruits.

George Anderson  •  31 Jul 2019

Protecting trees and woods

Norwich Western Link road threatens ancient woods and trees

Road plans in Norfolk threaten ancient woods and trees and the wildlife that live there. Find out what’s at stake and how you can help.

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How to make an easy elderflower cordial without citric acid

This elderflower cordial recipe is very easy to make. It's the perfect way to capture the sweet, summery scent of the familiar hedgerow tree that is in full bloom now.

Helen Keating  •  07 Jun 2021

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Types of bee in the UK: how to tell the difference

From fluffy bumblebees to pint-sized mining bees, we take a look at the key characteristics of some of our most common species.

Charlotte Varela  •  31 Jul 2023

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10 camping activities for kids who love wildlife

Discover 10 wildlife-themed activities for kids and families to enjoy on a camping trip.

Danielle Wesley  •  02 Aug 2023

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Feather identification: common feathers in the UK

Collecting nature finds is a lovely way to feel closer to the wildlife on your doorstep. Some of the most abundant of these treasures are feathers, and you can find them almost anywhere. But which bird left them behind?

Charlotte Varela  •  15 Apr 2019

Trees woods and wildlife

Blackbird

Garden stalwarts. Famous songsters. Familiar friends. These sun-worshipping earthworm feasters are regular visitors to British gardens. 

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Forest animals: 9 animals adapted to forest life

From scampering squirrels to beautiful butterflies, discover how our woodland species are perfectly adapted to a life among the trees.

Charlotte Varela  •  09 May 2019

Trees woods and wildlife

Badger 

Big families, big appetites and big personalities. Badgers are a wood's ruling clan, often occupying the same sett for generations and laying a network of well-trodden paths through the undergrowth. They’re playful, house proud and expert foragers.

Trees woods and wildlife

Bank vole 

Stout but speedy, the bank vole skitters around woodland and dense vegetation looking for blackberries, nuts and fungi. It uses its large ears to listen out for its many predators, such as the fox and kestrel.

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Summer holidays: outdoor activities for kids

Discover fun things to do at home and on days out with our outdoor activity guide for the summer holidays. Spot wildlife, try yoga, compete in the forest Olympics and much more.

Danielle Wesley  •  21 Jul 2022

Visiting woods

Discover woods in autumn

A visit to the woods during this spectacular season is always a treat. Grab your woolly scarf, pull on your wellies and venture out into the crisp autumn air. Listen to the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and get swept away in all that this season has to offer.

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Top tips for an eco-friendly and sustainable Christmas

Sustainable choices at Christmas could help the planet, save you money and make the holiday season more memorable too! Check out our top tips.

Charlie Mellor  •  20 Nov 2020

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Outdoor Christmas activities for families

Get out into nature this Christmas and enjoy some festive activities with your family on a woodland walk.

Danielle Wesley  •  13 Dec 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Hornet

The king of the wasps with a fearsome reputation, the hornet is actually much less aggressive than its smaller cousin, the common wasp.

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How to make a holly wreath

Read our tips and step by step guide for how to make your own festive wreath from holly and other natural foraged materials.

Kate Lewthwaite  •  24 Nov 2020

Trees woods and wildlife

Yellow-necked mouse

Agile, alert and rarely seen. The yellow-necked mouse is only found in the mature and ancient woodlands of southern Britain. Always on the lookout for predators, it can acrobatically leap to safety when threatened.

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British trees and shrubs to plant: 14 native garden trees

British trees pack a big punch in your garden. Make space for one or two you’ll have year-round interest and be supporting wildlife too. Here's our top 14 native trees to plant in your garden.

Helen Keating  •  08 Nov 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Hawfinch

This big-billed heavyweight can easily crush a cherry stone, but the UK’s largest finch is shy and hard to spot, spending most of its time in the canopy.

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11 waterfall walks to visit in our woods

From gently tumbling streams to powerful cascades, waterfalls are mesmerising. Check out the best waterfall walks in and around our woods across the UK.

Charlie Mellor  •  15 Jan 2021

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How to identify elderflower and what to do with it

Elderflowers are an all-time favourite forager's treat. Get our top identification tips, along with ideas and recipes on how to use the fragrant flowers.

Helen Keating  •  03 Jun 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Tree bumblebee

A new arrival and a welcome addition to the UK's bumblebees. This enterprising bee has quickly set up home across Britain and happily takes to nest boxes provided by kindly gardeners.

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Easy blackberry recipes

Forage for blackberries to make blackberry crumble, bramble flapjack, summer fruits pudding, and a sweet blackberry sauce.

Danielle Wesley  •  27 Aug 2019

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Do robins migrate? When garden birds migrate and return

Find out when robins – and other unexpected garden birds – migrate to and from our shores.

Charlotte Varela  •  10 May 2019

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Create a cosy winter wonderland: 7 ideas for sustainable and foraged home decor

Discover how to transform your home into a magical winter wonderland. Forage responsibly and intertwine nature and the wild with the warmth of your home. 

Helen Keating  •  30 Nov 2023

Trees woods and wildlife

Jay

A highly intelligent loudmouth. The jay is known for its love of acorns which it often leaves hidden. These forgotten snacks are credited with the rapid spread of oaks after the last Ice Age.

Trees woods and wildlife

Red squirrel

Bouncing bundles of bushy-tailed energy. The flash of a red squirrel leaping from branch to branch is an unforgettable, but increasingly rare sight in the UK’s woods. These charismatic creatures depend on woodland to survive.

Trees woods and wildlife

Common pipistrelle bat 

Flying mammals that live among us. Common pipistrelles spend the day sleeping in buildings, but rely on trees when they emerge at night.

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The benefits of exercising in nature

Find out why exercising in woodland can benefit your workout, boost your mood and improve your wellbeing.

Hannah Vickers  •  14 Jan 2019

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Wildflowers for bees: how to attract bees to your garden

Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. But there are things you can do in your garden to help reverse this trend including increasing food and habitat. Includes our top nine bee-friendly wildflowers to plant in your garden.

Helen Keating  •  18 Mar 2019

Trees woods and wildlife

Brandt's bat

Small and shaggy, this pink-faced bat is often found in wet woodland. Keep your eyes peeled for them at dusk when they come out to hunt.

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Winter wildlife watching: what, where and when to spot

The winter weather might be frightful, but nature is always delightful. Here are our top tips on what wildlife to look out for, where and when on your winter walks.

Rory Morrow  •  13 Jan 2025

Trees woods and wildlife

Redwing

Named after its rouge underwings, the redwing is the smallest thrush in the UK. A social nomad, this berry-loving bird only visits over the winter months, with just a handful of breeding pairs staying here all year round.

Trees woods and wildlife

Siskin

Stunning seed eaters with striking plumage. Bright yellow siskins rely on trees such as alder and birch for food.

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9 of the UKs rarest animals

Much of our beloved wildlife is in decline. Find out about nine of the rarest species in the UK right now, and what we are doing to help save these precious creatures.

Hannah Vickers  •  15 Apr 2019

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Hedgehog poo & tracks: identify signs of hedgehogs

Is a hedgehog visiting your garden? Learn how to identify the signs these prickly characters leave behind.

James Martin  •  16 Mar 2020

Trees woods and wildlife

Chicken of the woods

Bright, bold and soft to the touch, chicken of the woods is easy to spot.

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Where does mistletoe grow?

Mistletoe is a familiar Christmas staple, associated with folklore and midwinter tradition. But where does it grow and how can you find it in the wild?

Hanako Shimada  •  23 Dec 2024

Trees woods and wildlife

Hooded crow

A striking scavenger with a taste for carrion. The hooded crow was once considered to be the same species as the carrion crow, but is now recognised separately.

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Best native hedge plants: choose the right hedges

Autumn and winter are the best times to plant a hedge. To get you started, here are our top 10 recommendations for the best native hedge plants and the amazing benefits they'll bring.

Helen Keating  •  23 May 2023

Trees woods and wildlife

Grey squirrel

Tree-climbing nut buriers. Scampering grey squirrels are a familiar sight, but sadly these American imports have had a disastrous impact on the native red squirrel.

Trees woods and wildlife

Hazel dormouse

Sleepy, charming, undeniably cute. This minute mammal needs trees to survive and is seriously endangered.