Please note that the current weather conditions have resulted in dry soil and there are fewer mushrooms and green foliage to forage than would usually be present at this time of year. We will aim to forage Chanterelle and other mushrooms however if they are not present due to lack of rain George will provide a selection of mushrooms
Connect with nature and understand your landscape on this foraging picnic walk with Cowdray’s Forager, George.
On this pick to picnic foraging walk George will take you on a journey to discover the wonderful world of wild food we have all around us. You will explore the area of Sauters Gate and Hanger’s surrounding forests on a 2-3 hour walk.
As you are guided through the different habitats by George, you will experience seeing the world through the eyes of a forager. You will learn the what, where, how, and when of each species to give you an idea of the seasonal variables, as well as what to look out for when foraging for any individual examples. George hopes to show you that every living thing has a story to tell, and the beauty of foraging is understanding these in order to be a thoughtful forager with the knowledge to sustainably pick a range of seasonal wild edibles.
Once you have walked up an appetite George will guide you to a wild spot where you will be given a moment to rest and reflect, and the opportunity to prepare and cook the wild foods you have picked. The aim of this exercise is to show how accessible foraging is to everyone and how to best balance and showcase the fantastic flavours contained within our native landscape.
Please note that we will be looking for and taking note of both plants and fungi to give a complete idea of seasonal foraging. Fungi are very weather dependent and so although we expect to find some, factors beyond our control can affect this. However George will still discuss all aspects of fungi foraging for when conditions are more favourable.
Difficulty of terrain: Easy, flat public pathways. Please wear footwear that is suitable for undulating terrain.
Parking location: Please follow our what3words location for parking: https://what3words.com/shock.luring.blogging
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 exact start location to your walk. This walk will take place in Easeboure Street Forest. The specific parking location information will be sent via email before the event.
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.