Authentic, ethical and Sustainable Wild Food

Foraging and Wild Foods Course

One-day foraging course in North Wales

£80 - Dates available through 2024

The Foraging and Wild Foods Course is, by far, our most popular course. It is suitable for both beginners and enthusiasts, and is held in a private 90-acre woodland in North East Wales.

This course will cover not only the prominent edible and toxic species of plants, trees and fungi – it also covers the basics of identification, using ID resources and overviews of foraging law, ethics and ecology.

This course has evolved over time into what, we think, is the best and most relevant UK introductory foraging course we can offer. We will look at between 20-30 edible species, a few of the notable toxic and potentially dangerous species – and how to identify and work with each of them.

Each course is led by an experienced instructor.

Wild Food People runs foraging courses and wild food walks throughout the spring, summer and autumn; our course dates are carefully selected to take advantage of the changing seasons and the variety of edible species that are available at different times of year.

Course Content

  • Information about the edible and useful species of wild plant which we encounter on our walk
  • Examples of potentially dangerous and toxic species so that you can learn what to avoid
  • Advice on preparation of the items we discuss (and the consumption of!)
  • Identification tips, recommendations for ID guides and foraging books
  • A brief explanation about the laws regarding access and what you can and cannot pick/gather
  • Examples of common edible wild plants and fungi you can gather at different times of year, and where you are likely to find them
  • Fungi identification and safe strategies for mushroom foraging (when appropriate)
  • Recipe ideas
  • Post-course notes sent out by email following the course

Course Dates

£80.00 per participant

More information available on booking page – check for discounts and special offers!

By following the link below you will be taken to our booking page, where you can see the available dates and prices.

You can also purchase this course as a gift voucher for somebody else.

You can read more about gift vouchers here.

FAQs

Will the course go ahead in the rain?

Yes, this course will take place in most weather conditions, including rain. We will contact participants directly if there is any need to postpone or alter the course.

What do I need to bring?

There is no special foraging equipment necessary for this entry-level foraging walk, however we ask that you are prepared for the weather of the day and walking for 4 hours on an unprepared surface in a woodland and field edges.
Check the forecast before coming out and dress appropriately.

We recommend that you bring with you:

  • Comfortable walking boots or shoes suitable for grass, soil and occasionally sloping ground
  • Suitable warm and/or waterproof layers for the weather forecast that day
  • Bottle of water and maybe a snack
  • Notepad and pen/pencil
How fit do I need to be?

This course takes place along rough footpaths and trackways through a woodland and fields which are managed for farming and wildlife; this woodland is located on the side of a river valley and our route involves walking a couple of short but steep and narrow uphill sections of footpath and there are also two stiles along the route.

The course lasts 4 hours and we cover a distance of about 2 miles with standing stops to talk about the species we come across and different aspects of foraging. 

Are mushrooms and edible fungi covered on this course?

Yes – but each course is focused on what is available in that area at that time.

The availability of fungi (and particularly the edible species) is dependent on many conditions including temperature, humidity and even soil disturbance.

We always talk in detail about mushroom foraging and mycology, but we cannot guarantee a good selection of edible species in the area on any given date.

Will I be foraging for things to take home with me?

During the course you will have the opportunity to taste around 20-30 different species and learning how to take your foraging to the next level through the use of appropriate guidebooks and sources of information, however we won’t be collecting any species in quantity to take away from the site.

Can I bring a dog?

Yes – but it will have to be on a lead at all times and be well behaved, with both humans and other dogs around.

Please let us know if you are bringing one!  You are responsible for your own dog at all times.

What time does this course begin?

We offer this course as a morning or afternoon session.
The morning courses start at 9am and will last around 4 hours. The afternoon courses start at 2pm and last around 4 hours.

We ask that participants are ready to depart from the parking area at the advertised time.

Is there any cooking involved?

There is no cooking involved on this course, but there will be some pre-prepared samples made with foraged edibles available for you to try.

Do I need to bring any food or drink?

The course lasts for 4 hours and we will be away from the cars for this time, we recommend that you bring a bottle of water with you for the duration, and any snacks that you may require. We will be pointing out edibles which you can taste along the way, but these will not form a full meal!

Is this course suitable for me?

If you have any concerns or questions then please contact us and we can discuss this with you. By booking a place on this course (for yourself or others) you/they are agreeing to our terms and conditions and that you/they are physically capable of safely attending this course which takes place on tracks, slopes and often unprepared ground.

Course Venue

The Foraging and Wild Food Course from Wild Food People takes place at the edge of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB just north of the beautiful market town of Ruthin.

We will meet you in a small car park on the edge of a private woodland, from there we will head into a mix of ancient woodland, pasture and ancient trackways which are home to edible wild plants, trees and fungi. This is a ‘wild’ landscape interlaced with well travelled but unsurfaced footpaths and surrounded by further woodland, farmland and small settlements; there are no facilities on site but plenty of trees.

Please note that the map below is only to show the general area – full joining instructions and meeting point will be sent out by email around 30 days before the course commences.

Gift Vouchers

The Foraging and Wild Foods course can be purchased as a gift voucher, either for one of our advertised course dates or as an open voucher that is valid for 12 months.

You can choose from the dropdown menu on the booking page, or let us know that the booking will be as gift during the checkout process.

If you have any questions please get in touch.

Private Bookings

This course is available for private and group bookings, as well as corporate days and events.

We can host the course at one of several venues in North East Wales, or travel to a suitable venue of your choice.

Please contact us for more information

Testimonials

The foraging course just outside Ruthin was brilliant. Richard and Amy are really friendly, extremely knowledgeable and the 4 hours passed by in a flash.

Mark

Outstanding course, content was amazingly detailed. Friendly, knowledgeable guides.

Anna

Absolutely fantastic foraging course - learned such a lot and left me feeling ready to start learning more about this enormous subject - brilliant!

Michelle

Learned so much and cannot wait to incorporate this into our diet. So good we've already booked on the Seashore foraging course in October!

Martin

UK Foraging & Wild Food Courses

Upcoming UK Foraging & Wild Food Events

29 Jun

Plant Identification Course

Ruthin
June 29 2024 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
30 Jun

Summer Tree Identification Course

Ruthin
June 30 2024 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Coastal foraging course north wales
06 Jul

Coastal Foraging Course

Borth-y-Gest
July 6 2024 at 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Foraging Course North Wales
31 Aug

Foraging and Wild Food Course

Ruthin
August 31 2024 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
31 Aug

Foraging Workshops at All Woodhill Park's a Stage

Woodhill Park Estate
August 31 2024 at 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

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