Take a guided walk through Heaton Park and learn how to identify and prepare some of the many different wild plants that can be used as food

In this 3 hour foraging walk you will be introduced to some of the many different plants that grow all around us and learn how to safely and sustainably use them as food in a variety of dishes, drinks and preserves.

November is usually the time when many wild greens continue to grow, some nuts are still ready to harvest and, depending on the weather, mushrooms often continue to appear. It is also a time to learn to identify trees ready for their spring reawakening, and to think about what roots might be good to harvest for the winter.

Led by experienced forager, herbalist and ethnobotanist Jason Irving, this course will equip you with the skills to begin foraging yourself and to take the first steps towards learning more about the wonderful world of weeds.

We will cover practical plant identification, safety and sustainable harvesting, while discussing some of the diverse cultural history, folklore and scientific research associated with using plants and fungi as wild foods.

Hopefully going for a walk will never be the same again as the diversity of plant life that surrounds us everyday is opened up to you.

The walk will conclude with 15 minutes where we sit and share a foraged cordial, tea and a snack, and discuss what we learned and any further questions you may have.

Please note we will not be gathering food from the park on this educational experience, but the course leader will offer some prepared tasters, and direct you to plants that are safe to taste as we go.

Course Leader

Jason Irving is a trained forager, herbalist, ethnobotanist and historian, who has led foraging courses for over 14 years.

For 3 years he worked as a full time forager in Kent supplying restaurants, he then moved to London to study herbal medicine, and worked at Kew Gardens for three years.

He has led hundreds of foraging courses in parks across London, working with restaurants, bars, community gardens and artists. He recently moved back to Newcastle, where he grew up.

Jason has an MSc in ethnobotany taught at the University of Kent and Kew gardens. He is a visiting lecturer in botany at Betonica School of Herbal medicine.

Since he was a child, Jason has been passionate about finding and identifying wild plants and fungi and learning their many uses as both food and medicine throughout history.

He has a wealth of personal, professional and academic experience studying and teaching about the used of wild foods and medicines - knowledge that he is always keen to share in an engaging, accessible and informative way.

For more information visit - foragewildfood.com

Jason is a member of the Association of Foragers (AoF), and subscribes to their Principles of Practice.

Details

Details on where to meet and what to bring will be emailed to attendees one week before the course starts.

Tickets

Children under 12 are free. Please email if you would like a concessionary rate.

Questions?

Please email me with any questions you have about the day and bookings: Jason@foragewildfood.com.

Description supplied by the event organiser.