Foraging Walks & Courses 2025…
Coastal / Estuary Walks ~
Clevedon, North Somerset, May 24th, June 7th- 10.00am-1.30pm (approximate end time)
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
Discover and eat some of the delicious wild edibles growing in coastal and salt marsh habitats, plants which shaped the lives of our hunter-gatherer forefathers and the menus of many a gourmet chef today! We’ll search for Sea Asters, Sea Arrow Grass, Sea Radish, Scurvy Grass, Sea Spinach, Rock Samphire and many more wonderful species. You’ll find out ways in which you can turn your foraged herbs and succulent sea veg into scrumptious meals and delightful condiments for use all year round. These walks are popular so don’t delay, book today!
24th May Walk £40 –
7th June Walk £40 –
Seaweeds & Coastal Walk
Gower, Wales – Sunday 28th June, 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
An introduction to some of my favourite very common seaweeds. Looking at how we can incorporate them into our cooking in broths, dry fried, dried and powdered, fermented or pickled. We’ll talk about other ways seaweeds can be used harnessing their amazing medicinal and nutritional properties. There will also be focus on some fantastic coastal dwelling plants living on or near the beach. These can be used in pickles, ferments, salads, risottos and much more. These have always been super-inspiring days and in a very beautiful location. Wild food picnic with ferments, pickles, sourdough and drinks will be provided on the walk.
June 28th Walk £40 –
Forage & Cook at The Pony
Pony at Chew Restaurant & Cookery School. 13th June, 4th July, 5th September, 10th October, 7th November, 5th December, 9.00am – 2.30pm (finish time includes lunch)
Foraging for seasonal wild plants along the meadows and banks of Chew Valley Lake. We’ll introduce you to some of our favourite wild ingredients and talk about how we use them in the kitchen. After the walk, back at the cookery school, chef Josh Eggleton will show you how to create a simple, yet wonderfully delicious dish with your foraged herbs. We’ll then enjoy the meal we’ve cooked, with a drink and stunning views over the Chew Valley.
Cost £110 per person.
Note: Go Foraging gift vouchers cannot be used for this event.
For more info and booking click on the link below…
https://theponychewvalley.co.uk/classes
Forage & Cook Mushroom day at The Pony
The Pony at Chew Restaurant & Cookery School. 12th November, 9.00am – 2.30pm (approximate finish time including lunch).
An immersive, day of foraging & cooking with Josh Eggleton, cook and owner of The Pony at Chew and Martin Bailey.
A morning of mushroom hunting near Bristol, discovering and foraging favourite gourmet mushrooms. We’ll introduce you to ways of prepping, storing and cooking the mushrooms we find.
Back at The Pony Josh will guide you through different ways of cooking with wild mushrooms. There will be moreish mushroom tasters along the way and drinks to enjoy too.
We’ll then enjoy our forager’s feast together in the restaurant with a glass of whatever tickles your fancy.
November date £180 per person.
Note: Go Foraging gift vouchers cannot be used for this event.
For more info and booking click on the link below…
https://theponychewvalley.co.uk/classes
Autumn Park Walk
Eastville Park, Bristol, Saturday 13th September, 10.30am -1.30pm
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
On this autumn foraging adventure you’ll discover numerous delicious wild edibles. We will look at leaves, seeds, berries and fruit which can be foraged around this time of year and learn what how to prepare, preserve and cook with them. There will also be discussion about the medicinal uses of plants, many of which can be used to help support our immune system going forward into the Winter months. This is a truly wonderful time of year as, alongside autumn’s offerings, many plants have a second flush of spring-like new growth. This makes it an exciting time to get outdoors and see what’s occurring in your local green spaces
September 13th Walk £40 –
Bristol Mushroom ID Walks
Bristol (Location likely just west of Bristol) – Fridays 14th & 21st, 28th November, Saturday December 6th & Sunday December 7th – 9.45pm-1.15pm (approximate end time) *Note: Due to the unpredictable nature of fungi, walks locations will not be decided until very near each date.
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
On our mushroom identification walks we will look at numerous topics including safe identification of gourmet grassland and woodland fungi, what clues to look for when getting to know mushrooms, preferred habitats of different species, what to eat and what not to eat, how to forage responsibly, foraging and the law, medicinal properties of fungi and much more. We will provide a delicious picnic with wild ferments and pickles, wild spiced hummus, mushroom pâté or similar dips, sourdough bread….and hot wild herb tea to warm your soul!
*Note: These walks will be very close to Bristol, on a bus route and with car parking. Also take not that these are identification walks and we will not be picking specimens.
November 14th £60 –
November 21st Walk £60 –
November 28th Walk £60 –
December 6th Walk £60 –
December 7th Walk £60 –
Quantocks Mushroom Walks
26th September, 3rd & 19th October, 2nd November. Walk timings – 10.30am-1.30pm
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
Note: Lift shares may be a possibility. Please let me know if you need or can offer a lift.
On our mushroom identification walks we will look at numerous topics including safe identification of gourmet grassland and woodland fungi, what clues to look for when getting to know mushrooms, preferred habitats of different species, what to eat and what not to eat, how to forage responsibly, foraging and the law, medicinal properties of fungi and much more. Mushrooms we often see on these days include parasols, amanitas, boletes, wax caps, puffballs and medicinal mushrooms. We will provide a delicious picnic with wild ferments and pickles, wild spiced hummus, mushroom pâté or similar dips, sourdough bread….and hot wild herb tea to warm you and keep you well.
September 26th Walk £60 –
October 3rd Walk £60 –
October 19th Walk £60 –
November 2nd Walk £60 –
Wild Food Forage and Feast
Forest of Dean – Saturday 25th October, 10.30am-5.30pm location given only after booking.
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
Join us for a whole day of foraging for autumn fungi and wild herbs. Enjoy a forager’s lunch cooked back at base, a very special event space surrounded by wonderful woodlands. We’ll enjoy pickles, fermented mushroom kimchi, krauts, wild spiced dips and other condiments with our meal, cooked over an open fire. Lunch time will be a valuable opportunity to ask any foraging related questions you might have. We’ll also lay out specimens we’ve gathered and use books and mushroom keys to help identify them. As with other foraging walks discussion will focus around numerous topics including; what clues to look for when foraging for mushrooms and plants, preferred habitats of different species, what to eat and what not to eat, how to forage responsibly and the wonderful medicinal and nutritional properties of mushrooms and plants. I will of course also give you some ideas for turning your foraged ingredients into tasty meals, condiments and drinks!
Exact location given only after booking and near the time of walk.
Note: Gift vouchers may be used in part payment for these events.
October 25th Walk £95 per person –
Medicinal mushroom walk
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
Bristol – Saturday 11th October 10.00am – 1.00pm
*Note: Location TBC near the time and after booking. All these walks will have car parking but I can’t guarantee they will be on bus routes, or easy to cycle to.
Learn about common medicinal fungi and their historical and cultural uses as medicine. We’ll discuss current scientific research into health benefits of mushrooms such as turkey tail and birch polypore. You’ll come away being confident in being able to identify several or more species of woodland fungi you can make your own medicine with. There will be mushroomy drinks to enjoy on this walk and mushroom tasters too!
October 11th Walk £60 –
Hampshire Mushroom Walks
Near Ringwood – Saturday 18th October – 10.30am – 2pm (approximate end time) *Note: Due to the unpredictable nature of fungi, walks locations will not be decided until very near each date. You will need to travel by car to these walks.
Concessionary rate available on request (please send me a message)
Note: Lift shares may be a possibility. Please let me know if you need or can offer a lift.
On our mushroom hunts we will look at safe identification of gourmet woodland fungi, what clues to look for when hunting for mushrooms, including preferred habitats of different species, what to eat and what not to eat, how to forage responsibly, wonderful medicinal and nutritional properties of fungi, plus I will give you some ideas for turning your foraged ingredients into tasty meals, condiments and drinks! These mushroom walks are relatively accessible if driving from London, Bristol etc.
18th October Walk £60 –
Qi Gong classes
Bristol, Starting early 2025….Watch this space!
I’m overjoyed to announce that I’ll be teaching Zhan Zhuang AKA Standing like a Tree Qi Gong classes from April. Cultivating energy through stillness and gentle movements we deepen our connection to the natural world. Afterwards, we’ll explore our surroundings with a renewed sense of awareness, appreciation and child-like curiosity. This ancient art sits perfectly with foraging and is incredibly beneficial for overall health. Sessions will take place outdoors, in amongst the trees ~ the perfect place to practise this ancient and wonderful art.
Please drop me a message if you’d like to come, or if you wish to know more! Sessions will run most weeks and will be on a donation basis. Suggested donation being £8 per session.
