On this Autumn foraging walk you will be guided through some of West Sussex’s beautiful countryside in search of wild foods. You will learn about what is edible, what’s not and how we can protect these habitats for future generations.

This walk will focus on the identification and uses of the wide range of wild fruit, seeds, herbs and mushrooms that can be found all around us. Autumn is the classic time to discover the wonderful world of fungi as this is the season when you can find the largest variety of species at any one time. If the weather and the season are right, walks can become a true mushroom wonderland, as we explore Cowdray’s old growth forests in search of these incredible and tasty treats. Many other edible plant species can also be found in seed and fruit, so we will look at these and learn how to preserve these fantastic spices and flavours as well as how to best utilise these winter harvests.

Finally George, whose heart lies in conservation, will talk about the environment, seasons and how both are changing and how we can read these factors to make the most of any wild food hunt. You will foraging mycorrhizal fungi, saprophytic fungi, rosehips, hogweed seeds, wild mustard seeds, wood avens, chickweed, ground ivy, sorrels, douglas fir, wild mints, chestnuts and lots more!

Walks will be circular beginning and ending at a location to be confirmed and will last approximately 2.5 hours.

Please wear footwear that is suitable for undulating terrain. Click here to find out more about Foraging at Cowdray. George will vary walk locations around the Estate to give you the best walk which encapsulates the season. Please see the reminder email sent out before the event to get the exact start location to your walk.

Meet George, Cowdray’s Forager:

George has been foraging and using wild foods for some years, supplying the freshest foraged wild edibles to some of the country’s top restaurants, chefs and food establishments.

After years of being immersed in the ‘wild’ himself, George now focuses on encouraging others to appreciate the significance of our native countryside, and how we can enjoy and protect it for future generations.

Over his years of foraging George has accrued an in-depth knowledge of our countryside, its diverse habitats and the variety of plants and fungi each contains. He has covered the length and breadth of the country from the Scottish Highlands to the moors and coasts of Cornwall, in search of new native edibles as well as sustainable sources to pick them. Working closely with chefs consulting on what, when and how to use each ingredient to best showcase them has led George to be featured on programmes like BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, following the journey from the forests and fields to fork. George now hopes to inspire you on your own adventure of discovery.