Hungry Salfordians can learn how to find free food at a spring foraging event in Peel Park.
Salford Rangers will be leading a Bioblitz event on March 24 to teach people how to forage in a safe and sustainable way.
Expert forager and naturalist David Winnard, from Discover the Wild, will be teaching attendees about edible plants.
Mr Winnard said: “I think people knowing about the species on their doorstep is important. When you show people species they never knew existed that have interesting stories, they take pride in their area, and they see that these green spaces are important for flora and fauna.
“A small park in Salford is vital for many species and can act as a stepping stone for these species to spread along the river or into other areas, and when local people feel connected to what is on their doorstep, they want to protect it.”
In the current climate, foraging is a brilliant way to get free food from the local nature around us. Mr Winnard explained: “In a time of a cost of living crisis, foraging can help in some respects lower a food bill, going out on to your doorstep and picking fresh, healthy spring greens can mean spending less at the shop.
“For me, it’s a no brainer and my job is to show people all these amazing species that grow on their doorstep as well as some of the other creatures that use them too.”
Benefits of Foraging by Emily
He continued: “Foraging is great way to learn about our natural landscape, the species in it and how they all interact together. It is another way of getting people to take ownership of what is on their doorstep.
“Too often in conservation we have areas which are off limits to humans to protect the environment, and rightly so in some cases. But when someone gathers blackberries, or elderflowers or wild garlic from an area close to them and it comes under threat, then they are far more passionate about protecting that space.
“In foraging we target common species not scarce or rare species – then not only does it help reduce a person’s carbon footprint, the plants are harvested sustainably, use less plastic, encourages people to eat fresh and seasonal wild greens and improve their well-being getting out in to their local green space and to get some exercise.”
However with foraging can also bring some dangers, not all plants are safe or suitable for human consumption.
On the Bioblitz Mr Winnard is hoping “to find a wide array of plants with interesting stories and uses.”
Alongside safe plants, he is hoping to find some hazardous plants such as giant hogweed which can cause nasty burns as it is important to know what to avoid alongside what is edible.
Recent Comments