Nourished by nature

Our countryside is a forager’s playground, and much of our freedom to roam it is thanks to the admirable work of the Ramblers

Foraging is one of the most rewarding and wholesome ways to connect with the land around us. After all, there’s nothing quite like coming home from a nice long walk with a big bag of hand-picked blackberries for the crumble. And the fact so many of us are able to experience that feeling is thanks to the Ramblers’ continued fight to ensure we all have access to walk in green spaces.

That’s why this year, keen forager and walker Jimmy Doherty, star of Jamie and

Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast, is teaming up with walking charity the Ramblers for the Let’s Walk Together campaign.

The charity is committed to helping as many of us as possible walk in our green spaces, an activity Jimmy credits with giving him perspective and “room to breathe without all the clutter we’re faced with”.

Take your pick

There are so many physical and mental benefits to walking in nature, but our land can nourish us in an even more direct way. As a big foodie, Jimmy loves to forage whenever he can on a big family walk. “It could be a handful of wild garlic here, some freshly picked blackberries there, or a few apples or pears hanging o„ trees,” he says.

You can join Jimmy by connecting with nature and foraging for some of Britain’s most stunning natural ingredients. For instance, from late winter to early spring, you can pick wild garlic from woodland and river banks across the country.

Its edible flowers and leaves carry a mellow flavour, despite the strong scent, and are perfect tossed into a salad, or even blitzed into a homemade pesto. Stinging nettles can also be picked at this time of year and make a fresh addition to a creamy soup or a refreshing tea. Just make sure you pick them with gloves to protect yourself and avoid areas near roadsides or fields farmed with pesticides.

Whenever foraging, do check online to see if your chosen ingredient is safe to pick first. And only ever pick from abundant sources, leaving plenty for the local wildlife.