A complete guide to foraging in the South West of England
From blackberries in August to sloes in October, the South West hedgerows offer months of free, nutritious food.
The South West of England is one of the best places in the UK to forage. The mild climate, abundant hedgerows, ancient woodland and miles of public footpaths mean that from June through November there is almost always something nutritious and free to be found.
The foraging calendar
May-June: Elderflower. Look for creamy white flower clusters along hedgerows and field edges. Pick in the morning when fully open, use within 24 hours. Make cordial, fritters or infuse into vinegar.
August-October: Blackberry. The classic British forage. Grows on virtually every hedgerow and footpath in the South West. Peak in late August and September. Do not pick after Michaelmas (29 September) as quality drops.
September-October: Crab Apple, Damson, Sloe. Crab apples make extraordinary jelly. Damsons grow wild in hedgerows. Sloes are very bitter raw but transformed by frost and time into sloe gin.
October: Hazelnut. Wild hazelnuts ripen in October in woodland edges and hedgerows throughout the region.
The rules of foraging
Always forage from clean areas away from busy roads. Take only what you need and leave plenty for wildlife. Never uproot plants. Check local bylaws. When in doubt about identification, do not eat it.