OUR FIRST TIME!
There’s nothing more invigorating or confidence-building than trying something you’ve never done before. GH starts a new regular series by giving three readers the chance to learn a skill. Here’s how they got on…
Three women each learn a brand-new skill
‘I picked a stinging nettle with my bare hand!’ Longing to pick more than just blackberries on her walks, Alison Prangnell, from Hassocks, West Sussex, learned to forage.
I’ve always been an outdoorsy type of person, with an appetite for adventure and learning new things. I grew up on the edge of Ashdown Forest, where I’d run off to play with my friends and pretend we were part of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. I was given a lot of independence to roam, and my dad would warn me about the plants I shouldn’t touch. Over the years, my love for the outdoors has grown. I’ve done activities such as white-water rafting, canoeing and climbing, but equally, I enjoy walking and can just sit on a hillside for hours.
During the lockdowns, my friend and I set up our own personal development business together. I worked long hours, so tried to get outside for breaks to relax. On my walks, I’d spot lots of wild mushrooms and garlic, which I longed to pick but I lacked the confidence; I’d forgotten so much of what Dad taught me.
I felt like a child all over again when I arrived at Sumners Ponds in Horsham, excited at the prospect of learning something new. There were six of us in the group. We were each given a basket to fill, then followed forager Megan Moneypenny on our trail.
Wandering along the edge of fields, Megan encouraged us to get to know our surroundings and recognise the differences between the looks and scents of various plants. This is important when it comes to identifying toxic plants, such as hemlock, which looks very similar to harmless cow parsley. Usually when I walk, I try to cover as much ground as possible, but foraging slows you down and makes you appreciate what’s around you.
As a group we explored a very pretty wood covered in carpets of wildflowers, with shards of light beaming through the trees and streams running through the centre. I couldn’t believe how many plants were actually edible, such as daisies, which tasted like carrots, and cuckooflowers, which had a horseradish flavour. I learned you can grind acorns to make coffee and that stinging nettles are far more nutritious than spinach*. I even plucked up the courage to pick some with my bare hand!
Megan cooked us a delicious lunch on a camping stove in the wood, using the ingredients we’d gathered. She made a tapenade using wild garlic, followed by a bean salad with hawthorn and dandelion leaves, before finishing off with a mushroom risotto with crushed nettles.
It was fascinating to discover how many plants we walk by on a daily basis that can contribute to a healthy diet, and foraging is far more relaxing than a trip to the shops. It’s something everyone can do, too, no matter your fitness level, because you can choose your landscape.
I’ve had a dandelion patch in my garden for years that I’ve been struggling to control, but now I know I can add the leaves to salads or pick the buds before they flower (which taste of capers), I’m just going to use it as a vegetable patch. I’d recommend foraging to anyone. It’s a great way to learn about the natural world, while also doing something for the environment.
For courses around the country, visit totallywilduk.co.uk (from £30). Follow Megan on Instagram @flintandfern
Foraging slows you down so you appreciate what’s around you
I’m already thinking about how I can use my new calligraphy knowledge