I love foraging, I got into it during Lockdown as it was something to do with the kids…kids are great at foraging by the way, explain to them what something looks like or what not to pick and they always find it!
If you haven’t done any foraging before and don’t know where to get started there are some great books out there (the foragers calendar is a good one to start with) loads of facebook pages and some people offer foraging workshops or guided walks.
Other than mushrooms one of the first thing that is easily spotted and smelled that kicks off the spring is wild garlic! It is normally found in woodlands and near a source of water (alongside rivers). This leafy green can be eaten raw or added to soups, curry, bolognaise, bread, butter, whatever you can think of.
It has a very similar texture and colouring to spinach but is a pointy leaf shape. It can be confused with bluebell and lords and ladies (which are poisonous), however, it is unmistakeable for the smell, rub a leaf in your hand and you will smell garlic, if it smells foul or of nothing then it isn’t wild garlic.
These are some photos I took when I was out on my dry fast day walk and came across some (I didn’t eat any but put some in my hat to take home and add to my salad and curry for the next day).
Wild Garlic Benefits:
Bear’s garlic (Wild Garlic) boasts a very long history of use. The 1st-century Greek botanist Pedanius Dioscorides stated it in his five-volume herbal encyclopedia, describing its effectiveness for the cleansing and detoxification of the body. — I didn’t even know this I just researched it, must be why I found some when cleansing! haha
I did know it is good for lowering blood pressure as well as antibacterial, antibiotic, and antiseptic.
Happy Foraging 
