Hemlock

Your lungs stop working whilst your mind stays clear. Hemlock doesn’t kill you like arsenic or cyanide. There’s no dramatic collapse, no frothing at … Continue

Chickweed Safety Notes

1 Safety Profile and Toxicity2 Potential Adverse Effects and Cautions2.1 Cautions for Specific Populations2.2 Table: Potential Risks and Safety Considerations3 Conclusion While Stellaria media … Continue

Hawthorn Safety Notes

1 Safety Profile and General Cautions2 Specific Concerns and Interactions2.1 Key Adverse Effects Reported in Clinical Studies3 Conclusion While Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn) fruits and … Continue

Evening Primrose Safety Notes

1 Primary Safety Concerns2 Contamination and Quality Issues3 Toxicity Studies4 Conclusion Whilst Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) has a generally favourable safety profile, important cautions … Continue

Elder Safety Notes

1 Key Safety Concerns1.1 Table: Toxic Compounds and Mitigation in Sambucus nigra2 Additional Considerations3 Conclusion Sambucus nigra (black elderberry) is widely used in foods … Continue

Sorrel Safety Notes

1 Main Cautions1.1 Oxalic Acid Content and Health Risks1.2 Drug Interactions1.3 Nutritional Considerations1.4 Allergic Reactions and Individual Sensitivities2 Table: Key Cautions and Recommendations3 Conclusion … Continue

Arrowhead

Let’s talk about arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia (pics). Native to these Isles. Member of the Alismataceae family. You’ve probably never heard of it. Most of … Continue

The Way of Domei

I’ve been sitting with plants for 35 years now. Watching them. Listening. Feeling how they change me. And for the last 15 years, I’ve … Continue

Angels Breath

We’ve forgotten how to wait for anything. Hungry? Order takeaway. Fancy strawberries in December? Pop to Tesco. Everything’s available, all the time, wrapped in … Continue

Red List 2025: Vulnerable Species

Taxon Vernacular Name Threat Category Actaea spicata Baneberry VU Aira caryophyllea Silver Hair-grass VU Aira praecox Early Hair-grass VU Alchemilla acutiloba Starry Lady’s-mantle VU … Continue

Red List 2025: Endangered species

Taxon Vernacular Name Threat Category Adonis annua Pheasant’s-eye EN Ajuga chamaepitys Ground-pine EN Alchemilla falsadenta False toothed Lady’s-mantle EN Alchemilla mebii Margaret’s Lady’s-mantle EN … Continue

Judas Tree

The Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is a member of the Fabaceae family. Naturalised in Britain since at least the sixteenth century, carries with it … Continue

The Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

The Lamiaceae family might sound technical, but you already know these plants intimately. This is basil torn over summer tomatoes. Rosemary crackling on roast … Continue

Black horehound

If you’ve ever walked past a plant that initially looked like it was a stinging nettle or maybe a dead nettle, and then when … Continue

Marshmallow

1 Scientific name.2 Family.3 Botanical description.4 Flowers.5 Status.6 Habitat.7 Parts used for food.8 Harvest time.9 Food uses.10 Nutritional profile.11 Recipes.12 Herbal medicine uses.13 Safety … Continue

Food and medicine plants of Thailand

Aristolochia labiosa (possibly A. tagala)ดอกกำลังวัวเถลิง (Dok Kamlang Wua Thaloeng), AristolochiaClimbing herb used in Thai medicine for vitality. Barringtonia racemosaต้นจิก (Ton Chik), Freshwater Mangrove / Fish Killer … Continue

Douglas fir

I walk through dense oak woods, prolific with acorns. The sound of them tumbling through trees is rhythmic as rain, echoing the season’s bounty. … Continue

Peach-leaved bellflower

1 Common name2 Scientific name3 Family4 Botanical description5 Status6 Habitat and distribution7 Parts used for food8 Harvest time9 Food uses10 Nutritional profile11 Traditional medicine … Continue

What’s the difference?

There are two main options for learning about wild plants: Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland (The Yellow Book) The Seasonal … Continue

You’re paying for dead food.

That’s what supermarket vegetables are. Picked weeks ago. Shipped thousands of miles. Sitting in plastic, losing nutrients by the hour. And the average household is dropping £80 a week for the privilege.

Meanwhile? Your front garden is growing food that’s actually alive.

Here’s what nobody tells you about wild plants. When you eat them, really eat them. Fresh and just-picked. You’re not just consuming nutrients. You’re integrating the landscape into your body. The soil. The rain. The sunlight. All of it becomes you.

Last week, my daughter made soup for the grandkids from nettles she had gathered that morning. Still warm from the sun. One hour from ground to bowl. And she said she tasted the neighbourhood in that soup. The oak trees that shade those nettles. The river that waters them. The whole ecosystem.

That’s not nutrition. That’s alchemy. One form of life becoming another. You becoming part of the place you live.

Your supermarket can’t offer that. No matter how much you pay.

What if your food could actually connect you to where you live? What if eating wasn’t just fuelling your body, but participating in something older and wilder than any supply chain?

It can be. The food’s already there. Growing free. Waiting.

When did you last eat something truly alive?

Natural mirrors

Today, I want you to find a plant that tells a story about its survival. All plants adapt to their environment, as all humans … Continue

Rotational foraging

Foraging near rivers provides a rich variety of life. Many plants grow well in or around water. Some are aquatic, while others grow along … Continue

Flowering currant blossom syrup

A delicate pink syrup that captures the fleeting essence of spring flowering currants. The gentle heating process preserves both the color and subtle floral … Continue

How to avoid dog pee

A reader asked me recently. ‘How safe is it to forage in cities?’ It is an important question and one that needs to be … Continue

Forest floor tea

I published an essay on making tea with birch twigs a few days ago. A reader named Rev emailed me, ‘Hi Robin, this silver … Continue

A cup of twig tea

During the recent cold weather, I gathered silver birch twigs from outside my local police station, under the constabulary’s watchful eye. I took those … Continue

Yarrow purée

Method Pick, wash and dry some handfuls of young leaves. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add the leaves and simmer … Continue

Sorrel and cucumber soup

This vibrant sorrel and cucumber soup is a refreshing blend of zesty sorrel, cooling cucumber, and creamy sour cream, with a gentle kick of … Continue

Creamed bramble stems

Ingredients Method Blanch the Bramble stems in boiling water for 60 seconds. Drain and set aside. Fry the onion until translucent. Add the flour … Continue

The tale of Ash

I am Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), an ancient guardian of the woods. My roots plunge into Earth’s memories, as deep as my crown reaches for … Continue

The tale of Sea Buckthorn

I am sea buckthorn, and I have watched humans come and go along these coastal dunes for centuries. My thorny branches protect clusters of … Continue

The tale of Sowthistle

I am Sowthistle, standing resilient in the November chill. While most plants have scattered their seeds to the wind, I persist in protected corners … Continue

Elderberry glycerite shrub

Vegetable glycerine has a very low glycemic index of just 3. In comparison, sucrose (table sugar) has a medium glycemic index of 65. By … Continue

Gorse petal ice cream

Ingredients 150ml milk2 medium egg yolks150g caster sugar200ml double cream2 generous handfuls of gorse flowersA pinch of sea salt Method Begin by soaking the … Continue

Plants preserve cultural heritage

Learning about how plants were traditionally used in your area helps keep cultural knowledge alive. By understanding these old plant practices, you’re preserving important … Continue

Foraging fosters wise choices

Learn about both safe and dangerous plants while foraging. This teaches you to handle risks in nature wisely. You’ll develop better judgment about what’s … Continue

Plants reveal human impact

Let plants show you how our actions affect nature. Watch how they react to changes in the environment and what humans do. This helps … Continue

Observing plant relationships

Watch how plants interact with insects, animals, and other plants to understand ecosystems better. This helps you see how everything in nature is connected. … Continue

Intergenerational plant wisdom

Sharing plant knowledge can connect people of all ages and backgrounds. Talk about plants with both older and younger folks. This sharing brings people … Continue

Nature’s seasonal rhythms

Foraging for plants can help you understand seasons and nature’s cycles better. Watch how plants change through the year and gather them at the … Continue

Foraging’s holistic wisdom

Let your experiences with plants shape how you think about health, food, and healing. Learn how people used plants traditionally and notice how eating … Continue

Nature’s humble teachers

Stay humble when learning about plants. Remember there’s always more to learn, even about common ones. They can still surprise you with new discoveries. … Continue

Nature’s social blueprint

Studying plants can show you different ways of organising society and living together. Look at how plant communities work and how different species help … Continue

Plants teach diversity

Let your experiences with plants teach you about diversity in nature and human cultures. Notice how many different ways plants adapt to survive. See … Continue

Nature’s hidden feast

Foraging for plants can change how you think about food, moving away from store-bought habits. Finding your own food helps you understand nutrition and … Continue

Empowering plant knowledge

Knowing about plants can make you more self-reliant and resilient. Learning to find and use plants helps you take care of yourself and others. … Continue

Roots of connection

Get to know plants to understand your local environment better. Learn about native plants, watch how they change with the seasons, and see what … Continue

Nature’s healing connection

Plants can help you heal from personal struggles and addictions. Spending time in nature can support recovery. It gives you stability, purpose, and a … Continue

Endless plant journey

Think of learning about plants as a lifelong adventure, not a race to know everything. There’s always more to discover in the plant world. … Continue

Mindful plant awareness

Notice plants in your everyday life to practice being more aware and present. Look closely at plants you see, whether in nature or the … Continue

Quiet action

Foraging and using plants can be a quiet way to take action and feel more self-reliant. Gathering your own food and medicine challenges the … Continue

Sarson ka saag

Enjoy this hearty Punjabi dish, perfect for cold winter evenings. The earthy flavours of the greens pair beautifully with the rustic, slightly sweet makki … Continue

Crispy fat hen fritters

Indulge in these golden, crispy fritters bursting with the vibrant flavours of fat hen and aromatic spices. This unique twist on a classic incorporates … Continue

Anarchic harmony

Plant connections can reveal much about society and authority. They can also show your place in the world. As you grow closer to nature, … Continue

Rowan berry pie

Home > Plants > Rowan The Ryabinnik festival is a forgotten Russian folk celebration tied to the symbolic significance of the rowan tree (known … Continue

Rowan bud syrup

Home > Plants > Rowan A flavourful syrup with a subtle almond aroma, perfect for cocktails, mocktails, coffee, teas, or even in baking. Rowan … Continue

Connect with plants

Connect with plants. Heal yourself. Grow stronger. Touch the earth. Feel its wisdom. Let nature guide you. Tend to plants. They’ll tend to your … Continue

Nature’s quiet corners

Nature’s quiet corners hold profound truths. Look beyond the flashy and grand. Humble dandelions and silent moss speak volumes. Watch how water shapes stone … Continue