Discover Autumns Wild Edibles on a Forest Forage
Autumn turns a woodland walk into something richer than a stroll. Leaves soften underfoot, berries glow in the hedgerows, fungi appear after rain, and familiar plants suddenly feel worth a closer look.
On Saturday 17 October at 11am, The Fox & Hounds Country Hotel will host a guided autumn foraging workshop with Em Lucas from Arty Bohemian Healing. The session will begin at the hotel, then continue with a short drive to Eggesford Forest, where there is plenty of parking and a wide variety of seasonal plants to explore.
This is a relaxed, practical introduction to the edible and useful wild plants growing close to home. Expect to learn how to recognise common species, understand their possible uses, and see the woodland with sharper eyes by the time you leave.
A guided autumn forage through local woodland
Foraging can sound mysterious from the outside, but it begins with something very simple: slowing down. A plant that looks like background greenery one week becomes recognisable the next. A hedgerow stops being a blur and starts to show leaf shapes, seed heads, fruits, scents, textures, and habitats.
That is the value of going out with a knowledgeable guide. Em Lucas will lead the group through the woodland and help point out plants that can be used in the kitchen, in teas and infusions, as natural seasonings, or in other practical ways.
The workshop is designed as an expedition into the local woods, not a classroom lecture. You will be outdoors, looking closely at real plants in their natural setting. That makes a difference. Books and online guides can help, but nothing replaces seeing where a plant grows, what surrounds it, what stage it is at, and how it changes with the season.
Autumn is a particularly rewarding time for this kind of walk. Many plants have reached the fruiting, seeding, or root-strengthening stage of the year. Berries, hips, haws, nuts, leaves, and late herbs can all tell their own seasonal story. Some plants that were easy to miss in spring become obvious in October. Others are past their best for eating but still have value for identification and learning.
The session will look at both edible and useful wild plants, including those with traditional uses. This includes ingredients for everyday cooking, plants used to flavour food and drink, and species with a long history in folk practice. Any discussion of traditional medicinal uses is for general interest only and should not be treated as medical advice.
What the workshop will cover
The heart of the workshop is identification. Before any plant can be used, it must be known with confidence. Foraging is not guesswork, and a good guided walk helps build careful habits from the start.
During the session, you can expect to explore plants that may be suitable for:
Stir-fries and savoury dishes
Salads and fresh garnishes
Bakes, jams, and chutneys
Seasonings and natural flavourings
Herbal teas and infusions
Traditional folk uses
Simple practical uses beyond food
The exact plants found on the day will depend on the weather, the season, and what is growing well in the woods at that time. That is part of the pleasure of foraging. It is never quite the same walk twice.
A good autumn forage might include bright berries, aromatic leaves, bitter greens, edible seeds, wild fruits, and plants best left alone but worth knowing. Learning what not to pick is just as useful as learning what can be used.
Wild ingredients for everyday food
One of the most appealing parts of foraging is discovering how many wild plants can fit into ordinary meals. Not every wild edible needs a complicated recipe. Some are best used simply.
A few leaves can add interest to a salad. A small amount of a sharp fruit can lift a chutney. Aromatic plants can be used sparingly as seasoning. Some wild ingredients suit bakes or preserves, especially in autumn when the hedgerows can be generous.
The workshop will explore these possibilities in a practical way, with ideas for how wild ingredients can be used at home. It is not about taking large quantities from the woods. It is about recognising what is there, understanding how it has traditionally been used, and learning how to harvest with care where appropriate.
Teas, infusions, and traditional uses
Many wild plants have been used for teas and infusions for generations. Some are valued for flavour, some for scent, and some for their place in traditional herbal practice.
This part of the walk offers a chance to think beyond the dinner plate. Leaves, flowers, fruits, roots, and seeds can all have different uses at different times of year. A plant may be edible in one stage and unsuitable in another. It may be pleasant as a tea but too strong as a food. It may have a long history of traditional use but still need caution.
That is why context matters. A guided walk gives space for sensible questions and clear boundaries.
Never eat a wild plant unless you are completely sure of its identification and suitability. Some edible plants have unsafe lookalikes, and some useful plants are only safe when prepared correctly.
Plants with practical uses
Wild plants are not only food. Some have been used for weaving, tying, dyeing, cleaning, kindling, scent, or simple household tasks. Others have folklore attached to them or a place in local seasonal traditions.
These practical uses help tell a fuller story of the woodland. A plant that seems ordinary might once have been part of daily life. A tough stem, sticky sap, fragrant leaf, or fibrous bark can reveal how resourceful people have been with the plants around them.
For younger participants, this can be one of the most memorable parts of the event. It turns the woods into a living toolkit and encourages curiosity without needing to pick or consume everything.
Event details for the forest forage
This autumn workshop is open to adults, children, and well-behaved dogs. Children under five and dogs can join free of charge.
Detail | Information |
Date | Saturday 17 October |
Time | 11am to 1pm, approximately |
Meeting point | The Fox & Hounds Country Hotel |
Location for the walk | Short drive to Eggesford Forest |
What to bring | Suitable footwear and seasonal clothing |
Price | £8 |
Children under five | Free |
Dogs | Free |
Registration | 01769 580 345 or relax@foxandhoundshotel.co.uk |
Spaces are limited, so early registration is recommended. The group will meet at The Fox & Hounds Country Hotel before travelling to Eggesford Forest, where there is plenty of parking.
The timing has been chosen so the event finishes at around lunch time. After the walk, there is time to return to the hotel and settle in at the Heywood restaurant for lunch.
What to wear and bring
Autumn woodland conditions can change quickly. A dry morning can still mean muddy paths, damp grass, slippery leaves, and cool shade beneath the trees. Dressing well will make the whole session more comfortable.
Wear wellies or sturdy waterproof walking boots if you have them. Trainers may be fine on a dry path, but they are less useful once the ground gets soft. Choose clothes that can handle a little mud and dress in layers so you can adjust if the weather changes.
A waterproof jacket is a sensible choice, even if the forecast looks calm. A hat or warm layer may also help, especially if the group stops often to look closely at plants.
Useful extras include:
A small notebook and pencil for plant names and reminders
A phone or camera for reference photos
A reusable water bottle
Gloves if you prefer not to handle prickly or damp plants
A small hand lens if you already own one
There is no need to bring baskets or collecting bags unless instructed. The focus is learning, identification, and understanding. Responsible foraging begins with observation.
How to forage safely and respectfully
Foraging carries responsibility. The best foragers are careful, patient, and selective. They do not strip a patch bare or treat the woodland like a free supermarket. They take time to learn what a plant is, how common it is, whether it is safe, and whether it should be left for wildlife.
A guided session is a good place to build those habits.
Identify before you pick
The first rule is simple. If there is any doubt, leave it.
Plant identification uses more than one clue. Leaf shape matters, but so do stem structure, scent, habitat, flowers, fruits, growth habit, and season. Some plants look similar at a glance but differ in important ways.
Taking photos can help with later study, but photos alone should not be used as permission to eat something. Apps and online searches can make mistakes. A real-world teacher can help explain what to notice and why it matters.
Take only what is appropriate
Even when a plant is edible, it should be harvested with care. Take small amounts, avoid damaging roots unless you have clear permission and good reason, and leave enough for the plant to recover. Birds, insects, mammals, and other wildlife rely on autumn fruits and seeds.
Some places also have rules about picking. A guided event helps avoid confusion and keeps the focus on respectful learning.
Avoid polluted or unsafe spots
Plants growing beside busy roads, sprayed fields, contaminated ground, or heavily used dog-walking edges are not ideal for eating. Foraging is as much about place as plant.
Woodland and hedgerow plants can absorb or carry things you would not want in your food. Choosing clean locations matters, and so does washing and preparing anything edible correctly.
Learn the poisonous plants too
This may sound less exciting than learning what to eat, but it is often more valuable. Recognising unsafe plants protects you and helps you become a more confident observer.
Autumn can bring berries and seeds that look tempting but are not suitable for eating. Some are mildly unpleasant, while others can be dangerous. A good forage includes both sides of the story.
Why Eggesford Forest is ideal for an autumn walk
Eggesford Forest offers the right kind of setting for a seasonal foraging workshop. Woodland paths, changing leaves, damp corners, open patches, and edges where different habitats meet can all support a wide mix of plants.
Foraging often becomes most interesting at these edges. The border between path and woodland, shade and light, or hedge and clearing can reveal more plant variety than a dense, uniform area. Autumn makes those differences easier to see. Fruits stand out against fading leaves. Seed heads rise above grasses. Fallen leaves open views into the shape of stems and trunks.
The short drive from the hotel also keeps the event easy to manage. Meeting at The Fox & Hounds Country Hotel gives the group a clear starting point, while the forest offers space to explore without rushing.
The walk is expected to last around two hours. That is long enough to cover a useful range of plants while still being manageable for a relaxed Saturday morning.
A gentle way to reconnect with the season
Autumn can feel like a season of retreat. The nights draw in, the air cools, and gardens begin to quieten. Yet the woods are still active. Seeds are moving. Fungi are fruiting. Birds are feeding. Trees are storing energy. Plants are changing form rather than disappearing.
A forest forage helps make that visible. It gives names to things often passed without notice. It turns a walk into a way of reading the season.
There is also something satisfying about learning uses for plants that grow nearby. A wild garnish, an autumn chutney idea, a tea made from a familiar leaf, or a practical plant fibre can all shift the way a place feels. The local woods become less anonymous and more alive with detail.
For families, the event offers a hands-on outdoor activity with a sense of discovery. For keen cooks, it offers seasonal inspiration. For walkers and nature lovers, it adds another layer of knowledge to familiar paths. For anyone new to foraging, it is a safe and sociable place to begin.
Reserve a place before spaces fill
The autumn forest forage takes place on Saturday 17 October, from 11am to around 1pm. Meet at The Fox & Hounds Country Hotel before the short drive to Eggesford Forest.
The cost is £8, with children under five and dogs joining free.
To register, call 01769 580 345 or email relax@foxandhoundshotel.co.uk. Spaces are limited, so booking in good time is the best way to secure a place.
Bring suitable footwear, dress for the season, and come ready to look closely. By lunch time, the woods may feel a little different. What once looked like leaves, stems, and berries may start to look like ingredients, stories, traditions, and useful knowledge growing quietly all around.
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