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A day outdoors learning the secrets of seasonal wild plants is a rewarding way to spend late spring. Guided by experienced instructors, you’ll uncover edible, medicinal, and even poisonous species, while also hearing the fascinating stories and traditions behind them. The day finishes with the preparation and sharing of a group meal made from what you’ve collected together.
The course begins with a relaxed walk across a mix of habitats including hedgerows, woodland edges, and grassy clearings. As you move through these areas, your instructor will help you identify a wide range of seasonal plants and highlight the differences between those that are safe, useful, or potentially harmful. Practical demonstrations are combined with folklore and historical context, making the experience both educational and engaging. You’ll have plenty of time to take photos, write notes, and ask questions, ensuring the information stays with you long after the day has finished.
In the afternoon, the group comes together at the woodland base camp. Here, you’ll work with your harvest to prepare each ingredient, discovering simple yet effective techniques for cooking outdoors. A selection of campfire methods are introduced, and there’s an optional opportunity to prepare and cook wild game, such as a small bird or mammal. Everyone then contributes to a shared meal, which becomes the highlight of the day—enjoying good food alongside new acquaintances in a relaxed woodland setting.
South London Woods in CR3 provides the main base for this course. These woods offer an excellent mix of natural features, from shaded woodland paths to open edges where edible plants flourish. It’s a convenient site for those travelling from London and the South East, yet once inside the woodland, the sense of being away from city life takes over, creating the right atmosphere for learning about wild food.
For those preferring a more remote setting, private bookings can be arranged in the South Wales woodland, located within the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. This area offers a much larger and more varied landscape, giving participants the chance to encounter plants in a different environment. Its quiet, open spaces and rich biodiversity make it an excellent backdrop for deepening your foraging knowledge.
No prior knowledge of foraging is needed, and the day is designed to be suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience. All the guidance and instruction required will be provided by knowledgeable instructors.
A general level of fitness is helpful, as the walk covers a range of habitats and involves uneven woodland ground, though the pace is deliberately unhurried. Participants should wear sturdy footwear and bring suitable outdoor clothing, plus a light lunch or snack for earlier in the day.
The centre is run by instructors who combine practical expertise with a passion for sharing their knowledge. Their approach blends safety, tradition, and hands-on practice, so you come away not only with new skills but also the confidence to forage responsibly in your own time. Each course is carefully planned to balance information, activity, and enjoyment, giving participants a truly memorable experience.
There’s also a strong emphasis on community. Group numbers are kept manageable to allow for personal attention, and the day concludes with everyone coming together to share the meal they’ve helped prepare. This balance of learning and sociability makes the course a great choice for anyone looking to expand their outdoor skills while meeting like-minded people.
Yes, private courses are available at the South Wales woodland site in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
These private sessions offer a tailored experience where you can set your own pace and focus on the skills most interesting to your group. The setting in the national park also adds a special sense of adventure. You can book these by using the 'Can't find dates or have a large group?' button above the booking form and sending us an enquiry.
You’ll be introduced to a wide range of late spring plants found across hedgerows, woodland edges, and grassy areas. These include species that are edible, medicinal, and poisonous, allowing you to build a clear understanding of which plants are safe and useful, and which to avoid. The instructor will also explain the folklore and history behind many plants, giving you an insight into how they have been valued across time.
Because plants vary with the season and weather conditions, each course is unique. You may encounter common favourites such as wild garlic, nettles, or sorrel, but also lesser-known edible or medicinal species. By learning identification in their natural habitats, you’ll gain practical knowledge that you can apply when out walking or exploring on your own.
No, the course is suitable for complete beginners. The instructors are skilled at guiding participants step by step, starting with clear plant identification and gradually introducing more advanced points about processing and cooking. Beginners often find the structured approach reassuring, as it avoids confusion and ensures that safety comes first.
If you already have some experience, you’ll still find the day valuable. More experienced participants often use the course to build confidence, check their own plant identification skills, and learn new uses for plants they may already know. Everyone leaves with a greater appreciation for the variety and potential of wild plants in late spring.
It’s recommended that you wear sturdy, comfortable footwear suitable for woodland and uneven paths. Outdoor clothing appropriate to the forecast is essential, ideally in layers, with a waterproof jacket in case of showers. A notebook, camera, or phone for photos can also be helpful to record what you’ve learned.
You’ll be preparing and eating a shared meal later in the afternoon, so bringing snacks or a light lunch is advised to keep your energy up until then. A water bottle is also recommended. All specialist equipment, cooking gear, and ingredients for the meal are provided by the instructors.
Yes, poisonous species are included so that participants know what to avoid. This is a key part of safe foraging, as many edible plants can look similar to toxic ones. The instructor will highlight the differences, teaching you clear identification techniques to reduce risk when foraging independently.
Recognising dangerous plants is as important as knowing the edible ones, and this course gives you a balanced understanding of both. By seeing them in their natural habitat, you’ll gain confidence in identifying them correctly and avoiding mistakes in the future.
All dietary requirements can be catered for. When booking, simply let the organisers know of any allergies, intolerances, or preferences. The instructors are used to adapting the meal to suit participants, ensuring everyone can enjoy the food prepared during the course.
If you prefer not to try wild game during the cooking session, there’s no pressure to take part. Alternative ingredients will always be available, and the emphasis remains on creating a shared group meal that everyone feels comfortable eating.
The day includes a gentle walk across a mix of habitats, usually lasting a couple of hours in the morning. While the walk isn’t fast-paced, it does involve uneven woodland ground, so a moderate level of fitness is helpful. Sturdy footwear makes it much easier to move around comfortably.
The afternoon focuses on food preparation and cooking at the woodland base camp, which is less physically demanding. Overall, the course is accessible to most adults with a reasonable level of mobility, and the pace is set to allow for learning as well as enjoyment.
Yes, photography is encouraged as it’s a helpful way to reinforce what you’ve learned. Taking photos of plants in their natural setting helps you remember key identification features later. Many participants also like to photograph the cooking stage or the group meal as a record of the day.
That said, instructors will ask that photos be taken respectfully, especially during group activities, so as not to distract others. Notes and sketches in a notebook can also be a useful complement to photographs, helping you create a personal reference for future foraging.
About the centre
South London Woods
Operated by Pippin & Gile Bushcraft & Foraging Courses, a partner of adventuro.
Surrey, East and West Sussex, United Kingdom
From £89
