![\""Autumn\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Foraging20responsibly-d8fec8c.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Autumn\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>How to forage responsibly<\/h2>\n
Always be sure you can positively identify any plant before you pick it, and never eat any plant you are unsure of. When foraging, ensure you leave plenty for wildlife.<\/p>\n
Here are a couple of key foraging guidelines:<\/p>\n
- Seek permission before foraging.\u00a0In certain areas, plant species will be protected so it is important to do some research and\u00a0check with the landowner before you start gathering.<\/li>\n
- Only pick from areas that have a plentiful supply. Look for areas where you can find food in abundance and then only collect a small amount for personal use. Never completely strip an area as this could damage the species and deny another forager the chance to collect.<\/li>\n
- Leave enough for wildlife and avoid damaging habitats.Many animals rely on plants for survival, so never take more than you plan to eat as this\u00a0could also deny wildlife from a valuable food source. Be mindful about wildlife habitats and avoid disturbing or damaging.<\/li>\n
- Never pick protected species or cause permanent damage.\u00a0Britain\u2019s wild plants are all protected under the\u00a0Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)<\/a>,\u00a0which makes it illegal to dig up or remove a plant. Check the law before you forage or if in doubt, why not take part in a foraging class with an expert and learn the basics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>
How to forage safely<\/h2>\n
Take a good field guide<\/a> with you and always be sure you can positively identify any plant before you pick it. Never eat any plant you are unsure of. Taking part in a foraging course<\/a> with an expert is a good way to learn how to forage safely and responsibly.<\/p>\n
\nYou might like:<\/h4>\n
- Wild garlic guide: where to find, how to cook it and recipe ideas<\/a><\/li>\n
- Best mushroom identification books<\/a><\/li>\n
- The best foraging gifts on the market<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
![\""wild-garlic-flowers-3ed8075"\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/wild-garlic-flowers-3ed8075.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"wild-garlic-flowers-3ed8075\"\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section><\/div>\nMonthly foraging calendar<\/h2>\n
1<\/span>January<\/h3>\n<\/div>
Put on your woolly hat, zip up your coat and take a walk through the woodland to collect your first foraged finds of the year. While wild food isn\u2019t as abundant\u00a0in January as other times of the year, you can still find plants such as chickweed, common sorrel, nettle and wild chervil.<\/p>\n
![\""Chickweed\"]( "\\"\"Leaf\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Chickweed with many water drops\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n January foraging guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
2<\/span>February<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\""A\"]( "\\"\"Alexanders\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>A wildflower often seen on the coast. Seen here growing near Conwy in North Wales, UK. Also grown as a culinary plant with a similar taste to celery. (Getty)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Heading into February, the countryside will still feel very wintery, however it\u2019s a good time to forage for early spring plants, such as alexanders, mushrooms, nettles, chickweed and wild garlic. Alexanders\u00a0are\u00a0one of the first edible plants of the foraging year and\u00a0can commonly find it growing along rivers, watercourses and woodland edges.<\/p>\n
February foraging guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
3<\/span>March<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\""A\"]( "\\"\"Sorrel\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Wild sorrel leaves\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n When you\u2019re out stretching your legs across grassland in March, keep an eye out for clusters of green spears springing from the turf.<\/p>\n
March foraging<\/strong> guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
4<\/span>April<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\""Wild\"]( "\\"\"Basket\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Wild garlic, also known as ramson or bear\u2019s garlic grows in abundance in springtime. (Getty)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Winter is finally over, and Spring has arrived with longer days, warmer sunshine and blossoming flowers. You can forage foods such as wild garlic, garlic mustard and cow parsley. Read our expert guide on what to look out for when foraging in April.<\/p>\n
April foraging guide<\/a><\/h3>
5<\/span>May<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\""Lime\"]( "\\"\"Lime\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Lime tree leaves (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Take advantage of the beaming sun, long weekends and delicious herbs such as lime, sorrel and chickweed.\u00a0Read our expert guide on what to look out for when foraging in May.<\/p>\n
May foraging guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
6<\/span>June<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\""Photo\"]( "\\"\"Cropped\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Elderflower foraging (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Britain\u2019s forest and woodlands are rife in summer with herbs waiting to be foraged and used to add flavour to recipes. Look out for pineapple weed, honeysuckle and elderflower.<\/p>\n
June foraging guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
7<\/span>July<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\""Person\"]( "\\"\"Person\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Foraging bilberries (Getty)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Whilst walking through beautiful woodlands and along green hedgerows, keep an eye out for food you can take home such as bilberries and wild strawberries.<\/p>\n
July foraging guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
8<\/span>August<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\""Blackberries\"]( "\\"\"balckberries-dde6802\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Children will love the late summer activity of blackberry picking\/Credit:Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n With the transition from summer into autumn, August is a great month to go foraging for berries. Walk into woodland and you\u2019re bound to find elderberries and blackberries.<\/p>\n
August foraging guide<\/a><\/h3>\n
- Best mushroom identification books<\/a><\/li>\n
- Wild garlic guide: where to find, how to cook it and recipe ideas<\/a><\/li>\n
![\""Chickweed\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-117902668-402032f.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Leaf\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Alexanders-505839c.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Alexanders\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Wild20Sorrel_1-011bc87.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Sorrel\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Wild\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Wild20Garlic-59e5e33.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Basket\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Lime\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Lime20tree_0-f3c00b3.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Lime\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Photo\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Elderflower-abb45b4.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Cropped\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Person\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Bilberry_0-1e1339d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Person\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Blackberries\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/balckberries-dde6802.jpg?quality=90&resize=507%2C413"\" "\\"\"balckberries-dde6802\"\\"\/")
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