A basket filled with fresh apples and blackberries placed on a wooden table, showcasing vibrant colors and textures.
Foraging, Gardening and Outdoor Courses

Hedgerow Foraging

10:00 - 17:00
|
from £245.00

Overview

Our beautiful local Devon hedgerows, woodlands, and fields are full of wild food secrets, waiting to be discovered once you know what to look for and where to find it. This immersive one-day foraging course is the perfect introduction to hedgerow foraging, taking place on our stunning 100-acre farm.

Led by foraging expert John Wright, author of the River Cottage Hedgerow Handbook, you’ll hunt for a wide range of wild foods while learning how to identify and gather your harvest. In John’s experienced hands, you will understand how to forage responsibly and safely, only picking what you need. During our forays, we take just two baskets for the entire group—one for edible finds and another for interesting discoveries, ensuring we never pick anything rare or the same species twice.

Our River Cottage chefs will prepare a delicious two-course seasonal lunch featuring your foraged ingredients. In the afternoon, John will host a masterclass where you’ll learn about the seasonal bounty you’ve collected, the rules of conservation, and some harder-to-find exotic and lesser-known species, followed by a wild food cookery demonstration. By the end of the day, you’ll leave with newfound foraging skills and a keen eye for every hedgerow!

“A delightful day, in a delightful setting, eating delightful food with a delightful host. Thanks to John Wright for making the day so much fun.” Glenn,  June 2023

Highlights

  • Meet John Wright, author of the River Cottage Hedgerow Handbook.
  • Head out on a guided forage in beautiful Devon hedgerows and woodlands.
  • Learn how to safely identify edible plants and foraged ingredients.
  • Discover new recipes during our chefs’ demonstration.
  • Tuck into a delicious two-course lunch featuring your foraged finds.
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Your day

10:00 - 17:00

Arrive at River Cottage

You’ll be greeted at the top of the hill and begin your River Cottage experience with a 10-15 minute walk down the pathways to the farm, allowing you to fully soak up the views of the valley.

Make yourself at home

You will be welcomed by our friendly front-of-house team with tea, coffee, and treats fresh from the kitchen. Your host, John Wright, will introduce the day before you set off on your forage.

Morning forage

You’ll explore the beautiful countryside surrounding River Cottage HQ. John will teach you how to safely identify and pick various wild foods. While we can’t guarantee what you’ll find during the forage, there will always be plenty to discuss.

Snack break

We’ll keep your energy levels up with tea, coffee, and delicious snacks throughout the day.

A further forage

After your snack, you’ll continue your foray to discover what else you might find.

Late lunch

Food is always the focus at River Cottage, and a delicious seasonal two-course lunch will be one of the highlights of your day.

Demo session one

The afternoon session will cover conservation, how to recognise poisonous and exotic species, and the laws of foraging.

Demo session two

John will continue to inspire and entertain you with a demonstration of dishes that can be created using simple wild ingredients, and you’ll enjoy some tasters along the way.

Departure

At the end of the day, you’ll head back up the hill at 5 PM to our car park, feeling confident to make the most of your hedgerow hikes.

Further Information

Directions

This course is run from River Cottage HQ on the Dorset/Devon borders. Full address details of HQ will be provided once you have booked.

Licensed Venue

We are a licensed venue. We have a wide selection of the finest organic wines available to purchase.

Accommodation

If you would like to stay at the heart of River Cottage, we offer overnight accommodation at River Cottage HQ in our beautiful 17th century farmhouse. We have three stylishly refurbished bedrooms for B&B plus the 2-bedroom Gardener's Cottage. These get booked quickly so for more information go to rivercottage.net/stay to book. Alternatively, we have put together a list of our local accommodation which includes B&Bs, self-catering, hotels and camping.

Suitability

We would advise that this course is only really suitable for 12 years of age and upwards. Under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. We put these guidelines in place for the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all our guests.

Allergy Advice

Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies when booking.