November is a great month for foraging in the UK. It can be underestimated as most deciduous and annual species are dying back. The forests and hedgerows can look baron or bare. But if you look a little closer, you’ll find some late Autumn gems to bring home for a meal.
A note on foraging
As a forager, please be respectful of your environment and habitat. It is always best to secure permission from the landowner before foraging. There are some other rules
Some plant and mushroom species are protected so shouldn’t be picked. Wild flower bulbs should also be left in the ground.
Don’t pick a lone mushroom or plant. This isn’t because it is more likely to be deadly or harmful, but if it’s the only one, it could mean that it is needed in the environment to reproduce.
Take only what you need for you. This reduces waste and respects the environment.
Use the rule of thirds. If you’re picking for a larger dish or project, such as picking berries for preservation, take maximum 1/3 on offer. This leaves 1/3 for the wildlife and 1/3 for the next person.
This post is written to help people get more out of foraging. However, it does contain some affiliate links of recommended products.
November foraging finds
Bittercresses – as the name suggests bittercresses taste like… Cress! Bittercresses grow throughout the winter and can be used as a substitute for the easy grow seed crop you buy from the supermarket. The peppery taste makes it a great addition to a winter salad.
Slow berries – these rather tart berries have a large stone for the size of the berries. Many say that they are best picked after the first frost, although I’ve picked them sooner. Whilst eating straight from the blackthorn bush is possible, the most likely use is to infuse in alcohol to make slow gin or vodka.
Chanterelle mushrooms – chanterelle have false gills and can still be found as late as November. Whilst this mushroom is very common (and delicious) it is advised to check the species is edible before committing to a dish. Whilst the lookalikes might not cause more than a stomach upset, better to be safe than sorry.
Thanks!