{"id":35671,"date":"2024-04-02T12:35:33","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T10:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/c5cab8cb-5cc1-4ceb-9bae-6e18711bb75c"},"modified":"2024-04-02T13:39:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T11:39:32","slug":"april-foraging-best-plants-to-find-and-how-to-use-them","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/april-foraging-best-plants-to-find-and-how-to-use-them\/","title":{"rendered":"April foraging: Best plants to find and how to use them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring is finally here \u2013 and with it comes longer days, warmer temperatures and blooming flowers. It’s a great month to be outside, not only for spotting wild things but for gathering them, too. Find out what to forage in the UK this month how to do it responsibly. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 02 April 2024 at 10:35 AM<\/p>

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By the month of April<\/a>, spring is well underway \u2013 the countryside is buzzing with wildlife<\/a> and many plant species are in bloom. Wildflowers<\/a>, such as bluebells<\/a> and wood anemones, are covering the forest floor, eager to make the most of the window of sunlight before the tree canopies burst into leaf and block out the sun again.<\/p>

From the pungent wild garlic<\/a> plant to common mallow, why not see which plants you can identify on your next spring walk<\/a>? Here’s our guide to what to forage in April in Britain, plus how to identify and harvest each plant, where to find it, and how to use it.<\/p>

Where to forage in April<\/h2>

The first flush of tender green leaves is growing prolifically by now. This makes April a great time to forage for spring greens in woodlands and forests<\/a> and in the countryside to use to give your home-cooked recipes a local, seasonal flavour.<\/p>

How to forage safely and responsibly<\/h4>

Whether you’re 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’s foraging guide to learn how to forage safely and responsibly throughout the year.<\/p>

Beginner’s Guide to Foraging, with monthly guide to what’s in season<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Blackberries have long been thought to have a number of health benefits.\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>

Best plants to forage for in April<\/h2>

Wild garlic, Allium ursinum<\/em><\/h3>
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Wild garlic has a distinctive smell and white flowers\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Parts used: leaves, flowers and seeds <\/strong><\/p>

Also known as ramsons or bear leek, wild garlic<\/a> is an edible plant that emerges in ancient woodlands April and can be foraged right through summer. Use it when cooking to add great flavour to your favourite recipes.<\/p>

The leaves, flowers and seeds are edible. The pungent-smelling leaves are delicious added to soups, sauces and pesto. Leaves appear in March<\/a> and are best picked when young, before the plant flowers. The flowers emerge from April to June and can add a potent garlic punch and a pretty garnish to salads and sandwiches.<\/p>

Discover more with our wild garlic guide<\/a><\/h4>

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale<\/em><\/h3>
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Many butterflies and moths use dandelions as a food source\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Parts used: flowers <\/strong><\/p>

April is the month when dandelions really explode across fields, verges, scrubland and any patch of your garden they can set down roots in. You’ve probably heard of dandelion coffee, but did you know about dandelion wine<\/a>? The petals of dandelions are also great for making sweets and puddings, and look lovely sprinkled on a cake.<\/p>

Birch: silver, betula pendula,<\/em> and downy, Betula pubescens<\/em><\/h3>
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The leaves of downy birch are rounder in shape than those of silver birch, but both can be found in the UK\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Parts used: young leaves<\/h4>

This tree is native to the northern hemisphere, which may be why it is one of the most hardy and resilient trees in winter. In spring, young birch leaves contain especially high amounts of flavonoids, saponins and tannins \u2013 all valuable nutrients. These leaves are one of the first to unfurl and can be used to make a peppery, minty tea, rich in vitamin C. Birch<\/a> leaves are simple with round corners and serrated edges. The leaves of downy birch are rounder in shape than those of silver birch, but both can be found in the UK.<\/p>

Hairy bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta<\/em><\/h3>
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Hairy bittercress tastes like a cross between rocket and watercress\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Parts used: leaves<\/h4>

A member of the mustard family and related to watercress, hairy bittercress is, in fact, not very hairy or bitter. You may need a magnifying glass to see the small leaf hairs and the taste is more peppery than bitter, like a cross between rocket and watercress. This common, low-lying wild salad plant is found growing on bare soil, in grass, cracks on paths and growing in walls, and can be foraged from autumn through to spring. Harvest bittercress with scissors then pull off the leaves. Use the leaves in salads, sandwiches, as a garnish, or in pesto.<\/p>

Blackcurrant leaves, Ribes nigrum<\/em><\/h3>
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Use the leaves in spring and blackcurrant fruits in summer\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Parts used: leaves, and fruits in summer<\/h4>

Blackcurrant is a woody medium-sized shrub native to Europe and Asia, which is grown for its small black berries, but it is also highly valued for its leaves. They are excellent at helping to support normal digestive function, and can be a useful appetite stimulant in times of illness. A small handful of fresh, young leaves can be made into a tasty tea with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions. They have palmate lobes and a serrated margin. All parts of the plant are strongly aromatic.<\/p>

More foraging content:<\/h4>