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Wild Food Forage in East Sussex

Mentored by

Fergus The Forager

Fergus the Forager

Organisation links
Location address: Forest Row, RH18 5DP
Chosen age group:

For ages: 18 - 18+ years

Available tickets:
Standard £65
Next date: Tuesday 24th Oct,
A SUMMARY
We are always forgetting this world though each day it kisses us with its lavish steaming breath though the earth drums in our ears though the flowers turn as we walk by amazed at our forgetfulness (Daverick Leggett) Drawing on a 30-year wealth of experiential knowledge, wild food expert Fergus Drennan will take you on a 4-hr (3.5 in Dec/Jan) foraging journey that reveals the secret potential in even the most familiar of wild plants, the very plants you walk by every day. The humble bramble or blackberry will be revealed to be, on the contrary, a majestic beast of endless possibilities, native trees will be enticed to deliver up the sweetly nuanced complexity of molasses without a sugar cane plant in sight, and in one unexpected bite of crunchy and savoury abundance, you will experience the genuinely unique opportunity to eat 150 different wild greens all at once. On this wild food walk in Forest Row in East Sussex, participants will be provided with clear information on the foraging basics, while simultaneously looking deeply into the skills required to get the maximum benefit from wild plants. This includes precise tips and guidance for working with the 20-30 specific plants and fungi (when present) encountered on location, as well as detailed instruction regarding processes and techniques, for example, salt pickling, vinegar pickling, lacto-fermenting, cordial making, wine and spirit making, dehydrating, fruit leather creation, seasonings, and other preserving and food preparation techniques. In many instances those techniques will be brought to life by tasting the fruits of such labour. On this fun, informative, and engaging course, expect to taste 5-15 different wild food creations, including, perhaps, my soon to be world famous 150-different-plants-all-at-once biscuits! Most tasters suitable for vegan, gluten free, and nut-free diets. Please note that, generally speaking, we will be gathering or picking plants or fungi primarily for identification purposes, rather than large baskets of wildings for eating. Many of the plants we encounter can simply be touched, smelt, and important visual characteristics observed where they are, in situ. This is a celebration of the seasons. I have set a workshop for spring, summer, autumn and winter. If you would like to book for all four seasonal sessions I will offer one free of charge. To do this simply book on three indiviual sessions, email me your intention to join me for all of them, and I'll put you down for all four.
About your mentor
Fergus The Forager
Fergus the Forager
Foraging is a life-long learning process, and Fergus has been at it for 30 years. Not only does he have great depths of knowledge in all the key aspects of identification, processing, use and best sustainable practice, but he combines it with a fun and engaging manner that brings the craft to life and makes it accessible to all. He has been described by his foraging instructor peers as "the Starship Enterprise of foraging". Forager Mark Williams enthused: "We need gastronauts like Star Fleet Commander Drennan to chart new worlds..." His favourite was when he was described as "Heston Blumenthal, Rene Redzepi, and Pascal Bauder, rolled into one.” He is inspired to offer this string of courses because there is often the misconception that, in order to really get to know wild plants, you need to visit wild places, or at least the countryside. Certainly that is good to do, but it doesn't fully appreciate the incredible biodiversity to be found in cities, and London parks and green spaces in particular. Here biodiversity simply means a unique wealth of plants. Many will be generally wild, others more feral or ornamental, yet from a foraging perspective, whatever their pedigree, they offer unique learning experiences. And, wild food knowledge is usually best developed near to where you live, and in places it is convenient to visit regularly throughout the year.
Learning aims
Aim 1
To be able to appreciate the wealth of wild food abundance that surrounds us.
Aim 3
Learn key wild food preservation and processing techniques.
Aim 5
Experience the added learning that comes from a multi-sensory approach to wild foods, through touch, taste, smell, sight, and indeed listening.
Aim 2
Develop a clear understanding of how to gather seasonally and sustainably for both food and medicine.
Aim 4
Discover that although the aim here is to render invisible food visible, sometimes it is the journey that is more important than the destination.
Pricing information
Ticket nameStandard
Price£65
PHOTO GALLERY
Where we'll be
Tablehurst Farm, london road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5DP
WHAT’S PROVIDED
Snacks
Equipment
Safety
Basic DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy
No refunds are given except in the case of a cancellation by the Mentor.Although, of course, valid and often unexpected occurrences do arise that lead to non-attendance, I'm increasingly finding that when there is no refund nearly 100% attendees show up, but with a refund, often people don't attend. No refund helps focus intention to attend!

My experience is an educational activity and the 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 therefore applies. After the 14 day period my standard policy will apply.