Say ‘so long’ to solo foraging with these warm-hearted workshops
It’s time to shake the stereotype of the lonely, solitary wanderer. Foraging hangouts are in!
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For many foragers, human connection is not on their list of things to look for while rummaging in the woods or combing the coastlines. Instead, they value time in the wild for its focus on the quiet, unassuming, non-human.
But while some seek solitude, others forage as a way to nurture their social relationships. From couples balancing on each other’s shoulders to pick the sweetest fruit, to families sharing secret spots with trusted little ones, foraging can be a gateway to new friendships and the perfect antidote to loneliness.
With that in mind this Loneliness Awareness Week, here are six of our favourite foraging workshops to help you buddy up.
1
Forage and Nibble by Forage Box
Cost: £35pp
Duration: 3 hours
Location: UK-wide
Perfect for: Foodies
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Forage Box are on a mission to get people away from the supermarket giants and we couldn’t be more on board. If you’re an enviro-hero looking for like-minded foodies, their ‘Forage and Nibble” workshop is a perfect way to clue up on sustainable wild foods while making new friends.
Get ready to learn about fungi, fruit, flowers and foliage, and look forward to plenty of wild nibbles along the way. We also like their options for longer foraging excursions where you can cook and feast your way through the day. Did someone say foraged-ingredient soufflé, ravioli, and sushi?!
2
Women of the Wild: Three Day Bushcraft Adventure by The Grim Adventure Club
Cost: £235-265pp
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales
Perfect for: The gals
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Eva Outram’s club got its name to challenge all those who say it’s “Grim up North” and as her Instagram will show you – it’s an easy sell. Ditching the corporate world for Channel 4’s survival TV show Alone, we love the heart Eva brings to her custom adventures and this is our top pick for anyone looking to upskill on all things bushcraft.
Expect wood carving, wild-cooked meals, tree identification, shelter building, story circles, sleeping under the stars and did we mention the Celtic Feast? We also have a soft spot for this workshop for being women only so if you’re looking for sisterhood on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast, these weekends are sure to be something special.
3
Witchcraft Foraging for Spell Intentions by Urban Forage
Cost: £35pp
Duration: 3.5 hours
Location: Stanmer, Brighton
Perfect for: Spiritual souls
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If you’re more interested in the symbolic and spiritual meanings behind wild plants, then this workshop is your sign to start channeling that energy with others.
Highlights include a guided walk with master forager Christian Amys, tales of herbal wisdom, healing and magic, nature-based intention jars, foraged teas, and sacred campfires to help you align with others and the power of the Wicca.
4
London Wild Foods by Fergus the Forager
Cost: £75pp
Duration: 3.5 hours
Location: Hampstead, London
Perfect for: Intermediates
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Fergus Drennan is a giant in the foraging community with 30 years of wild food experience, so if you’re looking for a workshop with a little more technical know-how this could be the group outing you’ve been dreaming of.
As well as showing you how to identify 20-30 plants and fungi, Fergus shares detailed advice on food preservation techniques including salt pickling, vinegar pickling, lacto-fermenting, cordial making, wine and spirit making, dehydrating, fruit leather creation, seasoning and other ways to keep your foraged food for longer. You can always trust in a good keen crowd at these events but Fergus’s courses book out quickly – you have been warned!
5
Beginner’s Foraging Walk by Peakforager
Cost: Means dependent (contact over Instagram or email to say hello!)
Duration: 3-4 hours
Location: The Peak District
Perfect for: Beginners
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If the idea of meeting lots of new people is still a little daunting, Andrew Ford’s Peakforager outings might be more your cup of tea. Book a workshop with your own group of friends or enjoy a 1:1 session across the region’s fields, meadows, woodlands and hedgerows. Whatever your choice, prepare for a jampacked tour of edible plants, flowers, seeds, berries and fungi, and learn how to avoid toxic lookalikes too.
A great choice for beginners looking for a generous introduction to the wild edibles the uplands have to offer with a focus on foraging sustainably.
6
Foraging and wildcrafting course by The Little Foragers Kitchen
Cost: £20pp
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Glasgow and Oban
Perfect for: Healers and Historians
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Whether you’re interested in the therapeutic powers of wilderness or want to work on your own mental health, Vicky Manning’s 20+ years of outdoor wellbeing programmes will soon put you to rights. Learn about wild medicine, folklore, rituals and how to heal trauma through compassionate connection to others and the Earth.
Hear stories about our ancestors and the plants that sustained them, and relax into a smaller, slower setting, perfect for creating lasting connections.