GREEN SCENE

FORAGING FOR LITTLE FINGERS!

My blackberrying and other forays with nan taught me a lot about foraging in general; not only what to pick but what not to pick (sheep whimberries, for example!) and of course how far you can stretch over a ditch full of nettles without falling in.

I was so fortunate for those wonderful walks to be such a normal part of growing up, and not only learned about the fruits, nuts and berries but also what to do with them once you got home ... if any of them got home.

Not everyone is that lucky and apparently, in a recent survey more kids are now able to identify marketing labels and logos than trees and plants.

So sad. But one woman helping to readdress all of that is Adele Nozedar, the author of The Hedgerow Handbook and The Garden Forager.

And as well as writing about it, Adele is very “wellies on”, leading the most enjoyable and relaxed foraging walks in the beautiful Brecon Beacons (and I’m sure she’ll come to you if you can organise a group). Oh and she also hosts Gin Workshops, if you need any more persuading.

This Sunday, at Llangynidr Show, she will be launching her new book, Foraging with Kids (I wondered why it wasn’t called Foraging for Kids and then after reading the “alternative title” to myself a few times, realised why – much easier to forage for fruit).

It is a lovely book, with beautiful easy-to-recognise drawings, by Lizzie Harper, of berries, plants, trees and fungi and some great recipes – some traditional and some less so.

My favourite is the Pine Needle Lemonade and I think some of the recipes like Dandelion Cream Truffles and Pineapple Weed Ice Lollies will definitely have you making more room in your garden for “weeds”.

You can also download your free activities pack from Adele’s website. It contains everything you need to set up your own foraging event with a guide for teachers, parents and group leaders, a fun activity sheet for the kids to help them find their food and a recipe to try at home, a drawing and colouring exercise and pencils, a foraging calendar and some funky foraging stickers.

Adele will also be leading a foraging walk around the showground tomorrow; her knowledge and sense of humour will soon have you

and the kids forgoing the food aisles and foraging for your tea.

■■ Find out more about the courses Adele runs at www.breconbeaconsforaging.com Find out more about Lynne at www.lynneallbutt.co.uk