Why Is foraging making a comeback?

In an age of supermarkets, online food deliveries, and year-round produce, it might seem odd that so many people are turning to the wild for their food. But there’s a reason for the buzz:

• Sustainability: Foraging encourages eating seasonally and locally, reducing food miles and reconnecting people with the natural rhythms of the year.

• Wellbeing: Spending time outdoors and learning to identify wild plants is a brilliant way to unwind, relieve stress, and boost mental health.

• Flavour adventure: Wild foods often offer unique, intense flavours you simply can’t buy in the shops — like the garlicky punch of ramsons or the citrus zing of wood sorrel.

• Connection: There’s something deeply satisfying about harvesting your own food and understanding where it comes from.

In short, foraging offers a slower, more mindful way to engage with the world, and people are rediscovering how rewarding that can be.

Hampshire and Dorset: A forager’s paradise

We’re lucky to run our workshops in two of the most naturally rich and diverse counties in the UK. From the ancient woodlands of the New Forest National Park, to the rolling hills of the South Downs or the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, Hampshire and Dorset are teeming with edible plants, herbs, fungi, and coastal greens.

Each season brings new treasures:

• Spring: Young nettles, wild garlic, cleavers, and dandelion leaves

• Summer: Elderflowers, meadowsweet, and sea beet

• Autumn: Blackberries, sloes, rosehips, and edible mushrooms

• Winter: Coastal foraging for seaweed and hardy evergreens

The beauty of foraging is that there’s always something new to discover, no matter the time of year.

But is it safe?

Yes — when done correctly. That’s where our guided foraging workshops come in.

We teach participants how to forage responsibly, legally, and confidently. You’ll learn how to identify wild edibles, avoid dangerous lookalikes and understand the ethics of sustainable harvesting. Our workshops are hands-on, fun, informative and full of practical tips you can take home and use straight away.

You don’t need any experience to join us — just a good pair of suitable shoes and a sense of curiosity.

"Before I joined one of your workshops, I was very nervous about picking any plants to use in cooking. Your guide took great care to explain about what was safe to pick and eat so that everyone felt very confident by the end of the session. I really did enjoy the experience - thank you" - Mrs J after one of our 2024 workshops

What will you take away?

Besides a few samples of wild ingredients and recipes, people often leave our foraging days with something more: a fresh perspective. You begin to see the hedgerows differently, notice plants underfoot you’d always walked past and start tuning into the subtle clues nature offers.

Foraging opens your eyes to the edible landscape around you and you’ll never look at a patch of woodland, hedgerow or coastal path in quite the same way again.

Join the wild side

So, what’s all the fuss about foraging? Well, come and find out for yourself!

Our foraging workshops in Hampshire and Dorset run throughout the year. Whether you’re a curious beginner or an adventurous foodie, there’s something for everyone.

Find out out more about our forthcoming workshops in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire by clicking here

We currently run foraging workshops throughout the year in the New Forest, on the Dorset coast and on Salisbury Plain. More details available by emailing hello@experiencehampshire.uk