Making a hot pine needle drink is a useful outdoor skill that combines tree identification, responsible foraging and basic campcraft. The needles can add a fresh, resinous flavour to hot water, but identifying the tree correctly is essential before collecting anything. For this challenge, you…
Autumn hedgerows can be full of colourful berries, but bright red, purple and black fruits aren’t necessarily safe to eat. Some poisonous plants grow in parks, woodland edges and gardens, where their berries can look tempting to children, adults and even experienced walkers who haven’t…
Finding mushrooms and other fungi during an autumn walk can be fascinating, but discovering them does not automatically mean you can pick them. Rules vary according to where you are, who owns the land and which species you encounter. Some fungi are protected, and even…
Autumn is a rewarding time to explore woodland and hedgerows, especially when you start noticing the nuts developing beneath the trees. But finding a nut on the ground doesn’t automatically mean it’s ripe, edible or worth collecting. Some are ready to gather, others need more…
