How to forage safely and responsibly<\/h4>\n
Whether you\u2019re a seasoned forager or a complete newcomer, there are some golden rules you need to be aware of before you begin. Check out our beginner\u2019s foraging guide to learn how to forage safely and responsibly throughout the year.<\/p>\n
Beginner\u2019s Guide to Foraging, with monthly guide to what\u2019s in season<\/a><\/h4>\nGetty<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>
![\""Handful\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/08\/Handful-of-blackberries-8a532a0.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Handful-of-blackberries\"\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Best nuts and berries forage for in October<\/h2>\nWalnuts<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n\n![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Walnut tree\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div><\/figure>These non-native nuts are something of a Russian Doll; a smooth, pale-green outer layer covers a further, knobbly shell that gradually hardens. The inner nut resembles two halves of a brain. Fresh walnut kernels are delicious but do not keep for long \u2013 shop bought nuts are dried artificially. Walnut trees are surprisingly overlooked in city parks and you might make a great discovery if you take a closer look at your local trees. The big oval leaves are a giveaway.<\/p>\n More foraging content:<\/p>\n
- A month-by-month guide to foraging<\/a><\/li>\n
- Top nuts, seeds and berries to forage for in September<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to identify nuts and seeds from 12 familiar British trees<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDamsons<\/h3>\n
Damsons are a member of the plum family, frequently found in hedgerows, parks, woodlands and gardens in September and October. The fruit is slightly bigger than a large grape and resembles small plums. Note the distinctive blueish bloom on the skin. Sloes are smaller and harder \u2013 the size of a marrowfat pea \u2013 and taste very bitter. Damsons are extremely versatile. They are delicious eaten ripe but can be used in jams and crumbles, or even in wines and liquors.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Damsons\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nDamson jam<\/h3>\n
Simply weigh your damson haul and then weigh out the same amount of sugar. Add your damsons to a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and heat gently until all the fruit have softened \u2013 if you are fussy about stones, you can pick them out at this point. Then add your sugar and make sure it completely dissolves. Boil rapidly for 10 minutes and check whether the jam is at setting point (put a teaspoon of it on a cold plate and slide a finger through it. If it wrinkles, it\u2019s ready). Take off the heat pour into clean jars that you\u2019ve warmed in the oven.<\/p>\n
Damson gin or vodka<\/h3>\n
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Best nuts and berries forage for in October<\/h2>\nWalnuts<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n\n![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Walnut tree\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div><\/figure>These non-native nuts are something of a Russian Doll; a smooth, pale-green outer layer covers a further, knobbly shell that gradually hardens. The inner nut resembles two halves of a brain. Fresh walnut kernels are delicious but do not keep for long \u2013 shop bought nuts are dried artificially. Walnut trees are surprisingly overlooked in city parks and you might make a great discovery if you take a closer look at your local trees. The big oval leaves are a giveaway.<\/p>\n More foraging content:<\/p>\n
- A month-by-month guide to foraging<\/a><\/li>\n
- Top nuts, seeds and berries to forage for in September<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to identify nuts and seeds from 12 familiar British trees<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDamsons<\/h3>\n
Damsons are a member of the plum family, frequently found in hedgerows, parks, woodlands and gardens in September and October. The fruit is slightly bigger than a large grape and resembles small plums. Note the distinctive blueish bloom on the skin. Sloes are smaller and harder \u2013 the size of a marrowfat pea \u2013 and taste very bitter. Damsons are extremely versatile. They are delicious eaten ripe but can be used in jams and crumbles, or even in wines and liquors.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Damsons\/Credit: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nDamson jam<\/h3>\n
Simply weigh your damson haul and then weigh out the same amount of sugar. Add your damsons to a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and heat gently until all the fruit have softened \u2013 if you are fussy about stones, you can pick them out at this point. Then add your sugar and make sure it completely dissolves. Boil rapidly for 10 minutes and check whether the jam is at setting point (put a teaspoon of it on a cold plate and slide a finger through it. If it wrinkles, it\u2019s ready). Take off the heat pour into clean jars that you\u2019ve warmed in the oven.<\/p>\n
Damson gin or vodka<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/walnut-d9dfc7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>These non-native nuts are something of a Russian Doll; a smooth, pale-green outer layer covers a further, knobbly shell that gradually hardens. The inner nut resembles two halves of a brain. Fresh walnut kernels are delicious but do not keep for long \u2013 shop bought nuts are dried artificially. Walnut trees are surprisingly overlooked in city parks and you might make a great discovery if you take a closer look at your local trees. The big oval leaves are a giveaway.<\/p>\n More foraging content:<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Damsons are a member of the plum family, frequently found in hedgerows, parks, woodlands and gardens in September and October. The fruit is slightly bigger than a large grape and resembles small plums. Note the distinctive blueish bloom on the skin. Sloes are smaller and harder \u2013 the size of a marrowfat pea \u2013 and taste very bitter. Damsons are extremely versatile. They are delicious eaten ripe but can be used in jams and crumbles, or even in wines and liquors.<\/p>\n Simply weigh your damson haul and then weigh out the same amount of sugar. Add your damsons to a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and heat gently until all the fruit have softened \u2013 if you are fussy about stones, you can pick them out at this point. Then add your sugar and make sure it completely dissolves. Boil rapidly for 10 minutes and check whether the jam is at setting point (put a teaspoon of it on a cold plate and slide a finger through it. If it wrinkles, it\u2019s ready). Take off the heat pour into clean jars that you\u2019ve warmed in the oven.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Damsons<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/Damson-2e8d571.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Damson jam<\/h3>\n
Damson gin or vodka<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-169076924-65b8f39.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2020\/06\/sloes-55cf69d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-909259696-0c85a6c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>