Wild food is nutritious, delicious and completely free. During this fun masterclass with forager and horticulturist Dave Hamilton, you’ll forage for food during a walk in the beautiful Sussex countryside, then prepare a lunch of seasonal edibles. Along the way, you’ll learn how to identify a wide range of wild plants, as well as how to use those plants in a variety of dishes.
Dave has been foraging since long before it was fashionable, and has led many groups on wild food walks across the length and breadth of the UK. Anyone of any level can attend this masterclass, however it will appeal most to people with an interest in plants, food and the outdoors. The class will also appeal to gardeners looking to increase their knowledge, as well as chefs, foodies, or people looking to find new ways of connecting with the landscape.
Content
- Take a guided walk through the beautiful Sussex countryside and discover what edible plants are available
- Learn the botanical names of many of the UK’s wild food plants, along with the history of the plants
- Expert advice on how to forage safely and responsibly, wherever you live
- How to avoid the most common poisonous plants in season, as well as urban and rural contaminates
- Prepare a lunch of wild edibles
- Sample wild food snacks and drinks
- Find out what edibles will become available across the coming year
- Plenty of opportunities for questions and group discussions
Gardening month with Alys Fowler
This is one of the first in a series of classes specially curated by Guardian columnist Alys Fowler for the month of May. Keep an eye on our website or sign up to the Guardian Masterclasses newsletter to be the first to hear about more classes in this exclusive series, covering everything from garden design to foraging and growing fruit and veg.
Practicalities
- Please note that the cost of your ticket does not include travel costs. All attendees are asked to meet at Balcombe station in Sussex at 9.30am
- The village of Balcombe is easily accessible from London and surrounding areas. At the time this web page was published, the cost of a single ticket from London Bridge station to Balcombe station was £18.90, and an off-peak day return was £22.10
- The journey from London Bridge takes approximately one hour, and includes a change at Three Bridges station, where you’ll have to take a ten-minute bus journey to Balcombe
What to bring
- You’re strongly recommended to bring along the following: walking boots, a raincoat, a notepad and pen
- Lunch is provided on the day, but you may wish to bring along a couple of snacks for the walk, along with a large bottle of water
More about your teacher…
Dave Hamilton is a forager, horticulturust and journalist. He’s also the author of three books including Grow Your Food for Free (Well Almost) and Wild Ruins. Dave has been foraging for the last 10 years, and has degrees in food science, nutrition and sustainable horticulture. He has worked with organisations including the National Trust, the Eden Project and Bristol Botanic Gardens, and has made numerous TV programmes foraging with the likes of Ben Fogle and Mary Berry. He tweets @DaveWildish.
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Details
Date: Saturday 14 May 2016
Times: 10am-4pm
Location: Meeting at Balcombe Train Station, London Road, Balcombe, RH17 6JQ
Price: £199 (includes VAT, booking fee and lunch)
Event capacity: 16
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
