Humans have been foraging for food since the beginning of time, but how is it done safely today? In this UK foraging guide, we'll discuss what the activity involves and how to practice it properly — without running into any poisonous berries or mushrooms!
We'll also provide you with amonth-by-month foraging guide, so you know what's in season when, making your camping trips or wild expeditions that much easier.
So, if you want to gather delicious food directly from the source, keep reading.
Key Takeaways…
Forage only what you can positively identify. Use two trusted guides and follow the UK’s “Four Fs” rule: Fruit, Foliage, Flowers, and Fungi.
Follow the 1/3 rule: take a third for yourself, leave a third for wildlife, and a third for the plant to regenerate.
Avoid polluted or protected areas, and always get landowner permission on private land.
Common UK edibles include wild garlic, nettles, elderflowers, blackberries, sorrel, and oyster mushrooms.
Many plants and fungi have poisonous lookalikes — never eat anything unless you’re 100% sure it’s safe.
Before we get into it, below is a selection of our premium bushcraft tools, perfect for your foraging trip. Shop today and get free UK shipping when you spend over £60!
Foraging has been around since pretty much the beginning of time, with the first humans using it as a method of survival.
It’s still used by indigenous communities today, but it's also a hobby for those wanting to practice sustainable eating, nurture their connection to nature, and experience the proper way to wild camp.
Foraging involves identifying wild food, including plants, fruits, greens, and more, and sustainably gathering them safely and responsibly, without damaging the plants or surrounding ecosystems.
The practice allows you to eat food as naturally grown as possible, giving you the opportunity to indulge in new flavours you might not find in prepackaged food.
Safe Foraging Practices
Foraging is a great hobby, and if you're going wild camping or on a survivalist expedition in the UK, you need to be aware of safe practices so you don't harm yourself, harm ecosystems, or do anything illegal.
Below is a list of things you need to adhere to while foraging in the UK:
Accurately identify plants before eating them: If you're ever unsure if a plant is edible, use at least two reputable guides. We recommend joining local foraging groups on social media, so you can learn as you go!
Follow the four Fs rule: Only forage for Fruit, Foliage, Flowers, and Fungi where it’s legal.
Harvest sustainably:Follow the 1/3 rule, only taking a third of your plant for yourself, leaving a third for animals and other foragers, and a third so the plant can regenerate itself.
Be habitat-aware: Stick to areas where the plants are abundant, avoiding rare species or sensitive habitats.
Check local laws and permissions: You can't forage on private land where you don't have permission from the owner. You also can't forge on public land that's a national nature reserve, or a site of special scientific interest.
Use clean and sharp tools: This will prevent damage to plants and reduce the risk of contamination. You should wash and store it properly.
Be mindful of allergens and health conditions: Some edible species may trigger allergic reactions, especially if you're particularly sensitive to food. If you're concerned, introduce new wild foods gradually.
Forage away from polluted areas: Keep at least 50 meters from busy roads and avoid industrial areas, chemically treated farmland, or dog-walking hot spots.
Edible British Plants & Fungi
Wild garlic: Broad green leaves, star-shaped white flowers. Edible leaves and flowers.
Nettles (young shoots): Stinging hairs neutralised by cooking. Rich in iron and vitamins.
Rosehips: High in vitamin C. Usually used for syrup or tea (remove irritating hairs inside).
Gorse flowers: Coconut-scented blooms used in teas or salads. The seeds and pods are toxic and shouldn't be consumed, but the flowers and buds can be eaten.
Oyster mushroom: Shelf-like clusters on wood with a mild seafood-like taste.
Sea beet: A coastal plant. Its young leaves are like spinach when cooked.
Chickweed: Mild-tasting leaves that are edible when raw.
Chanterelle: Golden, funnel-shaped with a fruity aroma. It usually grows in mossy woodland.
Sorrel (common & sheep): Tangy leaves that can be added to salads and sauces.
Ground elder (young leaves): mild flavour and edible when young. Often foraged in spring.
Hedgehog Mushroom: Pale cap with soft spines underneath instead of gills.
Edible British Berries
Elderberries: Edible when cooked, raw berries can cause stomach upset. Elderflowers can be used for cordial.
Blackberries (bramble): Sweet berries from late summer.
Hawthorn berries: Edible raw and cooked, as well as their leaves.
Sloe berries: Tart fruits from the blackthorn. Best after frost for gin or preserves.
Wild strawberries: Small, sweet fruits found in grassy banks and woodland edges.
Bilberries: Small, dark blue berries, similar to blueberries.
Unsafe Foraging Practices
Foraging can actually be quite dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, but you also risk damaging the surrounding ecosystem.
If you want to ensure you're safe at all times, while keeping your surroundings protected, here's what you need to be aware of:
Relying on guesswork for identification: Mistaking lookalikes, like hemlock vs cow parsley, can be fatal. Be confident you know what you'll be eating.
Taking protected species: Picking rare plants is illegal and damages ecosystems. If you spot any, admire them without taking them.
Uprooting plants without permission: Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, uprooting without consent is illegal. You can take the leaves and flowers of a plant, but always leave the root or bulb.
Ignoring seasonal or ecological timing: Harvesting before seeds have set can cause plant disruption. Be sure you know your seasonal plants.
Littering or damaging habitats: Trampling, breaking branches, or disturbing soil weakens the ecosystem. Take care when foraging, and always think about where you set up camp.
Assuming all plants are safe to eat raw: Some require cooking to neutralise toxins like elderberries and certain fungi.
Inedible British Plants & Fungi
Hemlock: Tall plant with umbrella-like white flowers, which is deadly poisonous.
Hemlock Water Dropwort: Extremely poisonous and found near water.
Death Cap: Greenish cap, white gills, and a bulbous base. One of the most poisonous fungi worldwide.
Foxglove: Tall spikes with tubular flowers containing toxic cardiac glycosides.
Destroying angel: Pure white and deadly toxic.
Laburnum: Yellow flowers and seed pods. The seeds are especially toxic.
Monkshood: Purple hooded flowers which contain potent toxins.
Fool's funnel: Small, white funnel-shaped. Contains dangerous toxins.
Giant hogweed: Sap causes severe skin burns in sunlight (phototoxic).
Inedible British Berries
Deadly nightshade: Shiny black berries, highly toxic to humans.
Woody nightshade: Purple flowers with red berries that are poisonous.
Cuckoo Pint: Bright red berries, which cause severe irritation and swelling.
Yew: Red fleshy berries with edible pulp, but deadly poisonous seeds.
Ivy berries: Black berries which are toxic to humans.
Holly berries: Bright red berries that cause stomach upset.
Privet berries: Small, black, poisonous berries.
Snowberry: White berries, which are mildly toxic.
Spindle tree berries: Bright pink fruits, poisonous to humans.
Month-By-Month Foraging Guide
Foraging in the UK is possible throughout any season, but not all plants, fruits, and fungi will be in season all year round.
That's why we're here to give you amonth-by-month guide on what you can find throughout each month and where you can find it.
January-February
Foraging in the first two months of the year is chilly work, but the results are rewarding if you know what you're looking for and where you're looking for it.
So, grab your gloves and winter coatand see if you can spot any of these:
Nettles (young shoots): Find them in woodland edges, hedgerows, and undisturbed ground
Sorrel: Find them in meadows and grassy banks
Sea Beet: Find them in coastal areas, particularly sea walks
Chickweed: Find them in gardens, fields, and paths
Oyster mushroom: Find them on hardwood trees and dead or dying wood
Gorse flowers: Find them on heathland, moorland, and coastal areas
March
As we step into spring, the variety is ramping up just a tiny bit. You can find pretty much everything from previous months, as well as delicious wild garlic.
Nettles (young shoots)
Sorrelzz
Sea Beet
Chickweed
Gorse flowers
Wild garlic: Find them in damp woodland near streams
April
With winter finally over, spring has arrived, along with longer, warmer days. Get outside and start foraging for some delicious garnishes and ingredients!
Wild garlic
Ground elder (young leaves): Find them in gardens and hedgerows
Sorrel: Find them in meadows and grassy banks
Nettles (young shoots)
Sea Beet
Chickweed
Gorse flowers: Find them on heathland, moorland, and coastal areas
May
Things are hotting up this month, and while the same seasonal ingredients as last month are foraged this month, you have the addition of elderflowers, perfect for a sweet summery drink!
Wild garlic
Ground elder (young leaves)
Sorrel
Sea Beet
Chickweed
Elderflowers: Find them in hedgerows and woodland edges
Gorse flowers
June
As summer finally rolls in, woodland areas in the UK are rife with delicious herbs, flowers, and fruits waiting to be foraged. Get your basket and tools at the ready for June's treats.
Elderflowers
Wild strawberries: Find them in grass banks or woodland edges
Sorrel
Sea Beet
Chanterelle mushroom: Find them in mossy areas or birch woodland
July
July is the month you'll finally see some sweet berries on your travels. Here's what you can forage for:
Wild strawberries
Bilberries: Find them in heathland and moorland
Sorrel
Sea Beet
Chanterelle mushroom: Find them in mossy areas or birch woodland
August
August is berries galore, so if you're a fan of sweet treats like pie, crumbles, porridge, and cakes, or looking for a sugar hit while on a hike, you'll find plenty to forage.
Blackberries: Find them in hedgerows and woodland edges, typically near brambles
Bilberries
Hawthorn berries: Find them in hedgerows and woodland areas
Rosehips: Find them in hedgerows and scrubland
Sorrel
Sea Beet
Hedgehog mushroom: Find them in woodland areas, often under beech trees
September
September is still great for foraging, the weather is slightly cooler, making it a wonderful time to trek through woodland.
Like August, you'll find plenty of berries, so make the most of the last of summer!
Blackberries
Hawthorn berries
Sloes: Find them in hedgerows and field margins
Rosehips
Sorrel
Sea Beet
Hedgehog mushroom
October
Autumn is now in full swing, making exploring woodland areas a stunning activity with a canopy of yellow, orange, and red tones.
Fruit tends to fall, but you'll still find a few things to forage.
Blackberries
Hawthorn berries
Rosehips
Sorrel
Sea Beet
Hedgehog mushroom
Oyster mushroom: Find them on hardwood trees and dead or dying wood
November
A chilly walk will be rewarded with fungi this month, oyster mushrooms, nonetheless. While foraging items are sparse on our list, you'll still find plenty out there to take back to your camp setup or home with you.
Rosehips: Find them in hedgerows and scrubland
Oyster mushroom: Find them on hardwood trees and dead or dying wood
December
Lastly, December is an excellent month to head to the coast for sea beets (as well as delicious mussels and cockles that can be foraged during this time!).
Sorrel
Sea Beet
Oyster mushroom
Chickweed
Gorse flowers
Conclusion: Safely Foraging for Food in the UK
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what it takes to be a forager in the UK.
There are some considerations to be aware of, and, of course, you want to do it safely. Sowe urge you to make notes on responsible foraging before you head out there!
Foraging can be anexcellent way to connect with nature while using natural resources to conjure up delicious recipesat home or to tide you over on a wild camping trip.
It's also a great opportunity to learn about different plants and their ecosystems, not to mention the sustainable elementof foraging.
There is a rule for all foragers that states you can only take a third of the plant for yourself. This means a third will go to fellow animal foragers, and a third will be left behind so the plant can regenerate.
Is Mushroom Foraging Illegal in the UK?
Mushroom foraging is generally permitted in the UK, but with a few considerations.
It's legal to pick mushrooms on public land, unless you're on protected land or it's a rare species. Areas such as national nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest do not permit mushroom foraging.
It's also illegal to pick wild mushrooms for commercial purposes without permission.
Can You Pick Wild Garlic?
Yes, you can! But you need to ensure you're not picking it from a protected area. You cannot take the bulb or roots, as this is illegal without the landowner's permission.
You should also seek permission to forage if you're on private land.
What Are the Edible Plants in the UK?
Wild garlic, nettles, elderflower, rose hip, and a selection of berries are just a small selection of the edible plants you can forage for in the UK.
