Be safe

“The number one rule is: if in doubt, leave it out,” says Leah. The UK is home to some very deadly plants and mushrooms so you should always be completely sure you can identify what you’re picking.

“There are lots of lookalike plants,” says Leah. “So even if you think you know exactly what you’ve picked it’s always good to double-check.”

Leah advises getting to know what the most poisonous plants and mushrooms are first so you can avoid them. Books are the most reliable way to learn because they are peer-reviewed. Leah recommends The Forager’s Calendar: A Seasonal Guide to Nature’s Wild Harvests by John Wright and Wild Food UK’s Foraging Pocket Guide. The River Cottage Handbook is a good place to start if you’re interested in mushrooms.

Going on a walk with a professional guide is also a good way to get a comprehensive rundown of what you can pick. Online resources can be helpful. But Leah warns against relying on forums or apps because it’s difficult to determine who is a trustworthy professional.

Mindful picking is also important. “Take your time, make sure you know exactly what you’re picking, and try not to be clumsy with it,” says Leah. “It’s easy to get excited and grab huge handfuls, but in that handful, you may have accidentally picked up another plant which could be poisonous.”

Be responsible

Remember plants, trees and fungi are really important for our ecosystem. Animals and insects rely on them to live. “So, don’t be greedy,” says Leah.

Make sure there’s plenty of the plant you want to pick and only take a small percentage. Spread out your picking and don’t take all the leaves from one plant because that will hinder its growth.

Know the rules

It’s OK to pick in public places and on byways, however, uprooting plants isn’t allowed because it removes them from the ecosystem.

Avoid foraging in Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or anywhere that’s a site of conservation. If you want to pick on private land, you must get permission from the landowner first, “generally people don’t mind,” says Leah.

Furthermore, you can only forage for personal consumption. Doing it for financial gain is illegal.

A beginner’s guide to foraging wild food (including how to eat it)