The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - Wild Food

Wild Garlic Recipes

by Catherine ~ 20 June, 2008 ~ 3 comments

Anyone who’s walked through a wood and smelt that distinctive onion-y smell has been near one of the commonest, but little used, wild foods. Wild Garlic (Alium ursinum) or ransoms is common in woods all over the UK.

Elder (Sambucus nigra) - Elder Lore and Elderflower Recipes

by Jade ~ 2 May, 2008 ~ 7 comments

The elder is a small but bountiful tree that usually grows on the woodland edge. The tree has an abundance of history and folklore surrounding it and was long regarded as sacred, protected by the elder-mother who resided in its trunk.

Grow Your Own Truffles

by Catherine ~ 4 April, 2008 ~ 6 comments

Usually one thinks of collecting truffles as a solitary activity carried out in secrecy at dead of night. However it is now possible to buy trees already inoculated with truffle spores.

The Kelly Kettle

by Jade ~ 8 February, 2008 ~ 3 comments

The Kelly Kettle is a uniquely designed kettle originating from the west coast of Ireland. Here they have been used for over a hundred years by the ghillies (angling guides) at Lough Conn to quickly boil water using twigs, dried leaves and other bits of wood found around the lake shore as fuel for the kettle.

Woodland Survival – At Home in the Wild

by Annette ~ 1 February, 2008 ~ 2 comments

A few years ago I put myself in the position of living off the land for three days, living in a house which I had made out of sticks, and having to boil water to make it safe to drink. My bed was a mattress of birch twigs and my diet for those three days were wild foods I gathered as I went walkabout.

Wild Food - Seasonal Cookery

by Liz ~ 16 November, 2007 ~ 4 comments

What better way to be in touch with our beautiful countryside than to enjoy the best wild and cultivated produce that the season has to offer. Connect with nature for the best nutritional value, low food miles and fantastic flavours. Read more…

Sloe Gin

by Tom ~ 26 October, 2007 ~ 11 comments

After the first frosts is the traditional time for picking your supply of sloes. The fruit is just about ripe now and late October/early November is a good time to pick if you want something to round off your Christmas dinner.