Spring is an amazing time of year; all our native plants start to wake up and grow pushing the food made from the previous year into new growth. This new growth full of nutrients. If you’re into foraging for free food the spring is the best time of year to do it as a lot of our native plants contain the “pick me up” nutrients that our bodies need.
Remember if you are foraging for plants only pick what is abundant. Never dig up plants. You also need to ask the landowner for permission to pick plants on their property. If you don’t already have such plants in your garden already. Please do be aware that you pick what you know the plant to be. If you are unsure then it’s best not to pick and make yourself ill.
Here are a few native plants that might be of interest and is easily identified:
Watercress
An evergreen plant growing abundantly in small shallow streams. Watercress needs clear water streams that are unpolluted. Watercress has a bitter peppery strong flavour and dark green and crisp. It has significant source of iron, calcium and a high source of vitamins C and K. With very little effort you can add the stems and leaves to salads or make a wholesome soup that’s the most amazing green colour.
Watercress Soup
Nettle
Another easily identifiable native plant and can be found in most hedgerows or your garden. Pick the stems and leaves when just 3-4 inches high and use gloves. Wash well and cook till soft and liquidize the make soup from this or east like you would spinach. The cooking process destroys the sting! Nettles are a good source of calcium, iron and potassium along with vitamins A, C and K. Consuming nettles boosts our immune system.
Watercress and nettles are classed as a superfood.
Ground Elder
Strictly not a native plant but was brought in by the Romans. All parts of this plant can be used, roots, leaves, seeds. In the spring the leaves can be picked and used in salads or as leafy greens with your dinner. Ground elder tastes of lemon, parsley and celery. Also, an excellent source of vitamin C and is best in spring. If you have this in the garden you could cut the leaves down regularly and get a source of vegetable regularly.
Lambs Lettuce
This is an extremely common plant. It is an annual and can be found anytime from November to May before it flowers. Use it just like you would lettuce. Very low in any calories and useful in a low-calorie diet. Its free food! Use in salads. I have been told you can cook it but I have not done that so I can’t comment.
Wild Garlic or maybe Ramsons
In some areas this bulbous plant is rampant. In the area I live in there is quite literally loads of it and its very invasive and quite a curse if you have it in your garden. Like most woodland plant it has totally died away by the time the canopy of the wood is in full leaf.
Every part of this plant is edible and all tastes of garlic. Most commonly used are the leaves and seeds. The leaves can be used to make pesto or soups or even putting in salads. The smell from wild garlic is very pungent and can be used as insect repellant.
Wild garlic has vitamins A and C also calcium, iron, phosphor and copper.
Please do remember that if you are in anyway unsure of what to forage for then please don’t. Always seek advice and clear identification of plant being foraged. Stay safe.
