Forage in Cornwall, Forage Wild Plants at Tawnamoor
Forage in Cornwall, Forage Wild Plants to Gather, Learn and Eat a Prepared Lunch from our Resident Forager with Tawnamoor’s Plant Foraging Courses
In this beautiful part of Cornwall, Tawnamoor Cottages are surrounded by lush landscapes, which serve as the perfect landscape for an adventure into plant foraging.
Join us this spring for a series of immersive experiences that will deepen your connection with nature, broaden your culinary horizons, and ignite your passion for sustainable living.
For March 28th, we’ve teamed up with Emma The Forager, who is running this fantastic foraging experience from Tawnamoor!
You can enjoy a morning of foraging wild plants to gather, sample, and eat, either book jut for the event or book one of our 3 cottages for a relaxing and rejuvenating stay after a busy day gathering wild edible plants.
First, let’s explore why foraging for wild foods is a hugely rewarding learning experience and a sustainable gastronomic feast!
Cornish Wild Food Foraging Walks: A Gastronomic Journey into Nature
Embark on a journey through Cornwall’s verdant landscapes with our expert guide and forage in Cornwall.
Emma The Forgager’s wild food foraging walks are designed to make you confident in harvesting and cooking with an array of wild edibles. You’ll discover nature’s rich and diverse flavours, from aromatic herbs to flavourful berries.
During the walks, you’ll learn about the principles of sustainable foraging, understand the art of safe harvesting, discover useful tools, and gain insights into the laws governing the gathering of wild food. The adventure doesn’t end there – our foraging walks conclude with a delightful cooking session, where you get to taste the fruits of your harvest and discuss cooking ideas and recipes.
A Forager’s Paradise: Where Can I Forage in Cornwall?
Cornwall’s diverse ecosystems provide a forager’s paradise, offering a variety of environments to explore. Woodlands, meadows, and hedgerows as well as coastal areas, can yield a bounty of wild edibles. Popular foraging locations include:
Woodlands: Hiding in enchanting woodlands, such Cardinham Woods next door to us, you’ll find edible treasures like wild garlic, sorrel, and nettles.
Meadows: Grassy meadows are home to an array of edible plants, including dandelions, plantains, and various herbs.
Hedgerows: Cornwall’s hedgerows are teeming with blackberries, elderflowers, and hazelnuts.
Coastal Areas: The rugged cliffs and sandy shores have a wealth of coastal plants like sea spinach, rock samphire, and sea purslane.
Connect to Nature: Forage in Cornwall
Foraging immerses individuals in the natural environment, developing a deeper connection the natural landscape and its seasonal changes. The benefits include:
Sustainability: Harvesting wild plants sustainably contributes to biodiversity and reduces the environmental impact associated with conventional agriculture.
Nutrient-rich foods: Wild plants often boast higher nutritional content than their cultivated counterparts, providing a nutrient-dense addition to your diet.
Cost Savings: Foraging can be a cost-effective way to supplement your meals with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Why Cornwall is a Great Place to Forage
Biodiversity: Cornwall’s diverse ecosystems support a wide range of plant species, offering foragers a rich and varied palette of flavours.
Clean Environment: Cornwall’s relatively unspoiled landscapes and low pollution levels ensure that foraged plants are free from harmful contaminants.
Culinary Culture: The region’s culinary heritage celebrates local, seasonal ingredients, making foraged finds a natural fit into Cornwall’s food culture.
Discover the Bounty of Edible Plants and Fungi
As you venture into the world of foraging, here are a few edible plants and fungi that you may find in your foraging adventure at Tawnamoor!
Edible Plants:
Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum): Abundant in woodlands, wild garlic imparts a mild garlic flavour to dishes like soups and pestos.
Elderflowers (Sambucus nigra): Hedgerows abound with elderflowers, which can be used to infuse syrups, cordials, or even make fritters.
Nettle (Urtica dioica): Found growing in hedgerows, fields and woodlands, these vibrant, stingy greens can be transformed into soups, teas, or sautéed delights.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): A common wildflower, its leaves can be used to make tea, or in salads and its flowers are used to in dandelion wine.
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): Grows in hedgerows and woodlands, the young leaves, flower buds and young flowers can all be eaten. Lovely in salads.
Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Probably one of the most widely foraged berries, a real countryside favuoitre which can be eaten straight from the bramble bush or put into some delicious sweet desserts!
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa): Common in grasslands and used in soups, sauces and salads.
Rose Hip (Rosa canina): Found in hedgerows and wild landscapes, often used in teas, jams, syrups, adding a sweet and tart note to both sweet and savoury dishes.
Edible Fungi:
Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius): Abundant in woodlands, this edible mushroom is a favourite for foragers as a sought-after ingredient!
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus): Usually found growing in woodlands, especially on oak trunks from late spring to autumn.
Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum): Found in woodlands and heathlands, these mushrooms are prized for their delicate, nutty flavor and versatility in various culinary dishes.
Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris): found in grassy fields and meadows often used in various savoury dishes, such as soups and sauces.
Penny Bun (Boletus edulis): Found in woodlands, these mushrooms have a rich, earthy flavour and meaty texture.
Shaggy Ink Cap (Coprinus comatus): Found in grassy areas and disturbed soils, these mushrooms are known for their unique habit of rapidly dissolving into an inky black fluid.
Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus): Common in woodlands, these mushrooms are versatile in the kitchen, suitable for various dishes ranging from stir-fries to soups.
Honey Fungus (Armillaria mellea): Found in woodlands and on trees, some varieties are edible and appreciated for their mild taste.
Introduction to Mushroom Identification and Fungi Foraging
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with our introductory mushroom identification and fungi foraging.
Learn how to identify edible, non-edible, and poisonous mushroom varieties.
See how nature plays by its own rules, and while we strive to find edible species, the whims of mushrooms may lead us to unexpected discoveries.
For coastal foragers, there are also some tasty delights to be found!
Sea Purslane (Halimione portulacoides): Found along coastal areas, sea purslane adds a salty crunch to salads and can be pickled for a unique condiment.
Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum): Thriving on rocky cliffs, rock samphire’s succulent stems have a distinctive flavor, perfect for pickling or blanching.
Rest, Reset and Revive and Forage in Cornwall at Tawnamoor
Following a challenging day of foraging, consider booking a stay at one of our three cottages. It’s the perfect haven to unwind, reset, and rejuvenate, allowing you to relish the delectable wild treasures you’ve gathered!
Unearth the Flavours of Nature: Tawnamoor’s Plant Foraging Courses for Spring
If you would like a deeper connection with nature and to learn about sustainable practices, join us at Tawnamoor in the spring for our Plant Foraging Courses. Enjoy a journey of culinary discovery, ecological understanding, and the pure joy of immersing yourself in the wonders of the natural world.
Book here for a delicious adventure that will ignite your passion for foraging!
