About

Vale House Kitchen offers an exciting opportunity to explore the bounty of the countryside with its fascinating Introduction to Foraging Course. Participants will gather and prepare their own wild ingredients, gaining valuable knowledge, skills, and experience from expert forager and landscape ecologist, Adrian Boots.

Skills:

• How to forage sustainably within the law and with good practice
• How to safely collect, prepare, and cook common seasonal wild foods
• How to identify common seasonal edible and non-edible plants and fungi, as well as the habitats in which to find them

The British countryside is brimming with delicious wild ingredients that can elevate cooking, but novice foragers may feel apprehensive about getting started. It's essential to know what to pick and ensure it's safe to eat. This course provides the perfect opportunity to learn, guided by expert forager Adrian Boots.

The day begins with a walk through the beautiful countryside surrounding Vale House Kitchen, where participants will gather ingredients while learning from Adrian about landscape features, habitats, associated tree and plant species, and their relationships to wild food seasonality. The walk offers a fascinating insight into the history of foraging, from ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors to today's modern foraging culture, including topics such as ecology, conservation, safety, and relevant regulations.

Afterwards, the group returns to Vale House Kitchen for a fantastic seasonal forager's lunch. The afternoon is spent in the classroom, where participants turn their freshly gathered goodies into delicious recipes. At the end of the day, they’ll be able to take home plenty of their own creations, along with a course booklet filled with recipes and tips.