This guided walk hosted by our Estate Forager George Linklater takes you on a journey to understand the wonderful world of fungi.

Fungi are more than just mushrooms; the kingdom of fungi is vast. On this walk we will discuss the countless ways fungi are an integral part of our lives in ways we don’t even expect. George will touch on the past and how we used to think of fungi, the present and the incredible discoveries that are being made about the wood wide network, and the many other benefits mushrooms have on their environment.

Guests will be shown how to forage fungi, understanding the organisms they live in and with, how to safely explore the world of mushrooms without danger and confidently identify them. To do this we will look at the families of mushrooms and their distinguishing features so you truly get a window into the world of the mycologist.

We will conclude with a look to the future of how we can utilise these incredible organisms to better the health of ourselves and the world as a whole. There will be an opportunity to ask George questions in a Q&A session after.

Walks will be circular beginning and ending at Cowdray Farm Shop 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.