Events
This events listing is updated through the year. For bookings or enquiries please contact Jesper.
Testimonials
"My partner Sir Cameron Mackintosh has, for many years, foraged for mushrooms in our local woods and I, for many years, have been terrified that he is going to pick something lethal! Having read about Jesper's private foraging walks I thought it was a perfect opportunity to put my mind at rest and to learn more about wild food. I have to say that our day with Jesper was more interesting and enjoyable than we could possibly have imagined. He is extremely knowledgeable and wonderfully enthusiastic with that knowledge not only of the mushrooms we found but all sorts of other wild plants and their uses both culinary and medicinal.
At the end of the day we had a great selection of mushrooms - many more in fact than Cameron had thought edible in the past - and also examples of the deadly ones to avoid.
I couldn't recommend a day foraging with Jesper more highly."
Michael Le Poer Trench, 2009
“The mushroom picking day was a lovely opportunity to learn about the wide varieties of edible and poisonous mushrooms that are freely available on our doorstep. Jesper has a flair for imparting his wide knowledge in an engaging manner. A fun filled day with the chance to meet like-minded individuals. I would thoroughly recommend it.”
Rashmi Chury, 2009
“Really enjoyed the day, you have an extensive knowledge of your subject and your bonus of cooking the food – it was amazing how many mushrooms we found. This is the second course I have attended of yours and I enjoyed both – learnt so much - looking forward to more courses.”
Wendy Ireton, 2009
Saturday 27th March Big Green Chorlton Festival – Wild Food Events
As part of the festival, Jesper will be leading a Spring Wild Food forage in Chorlton Ees searching for the first early edible shoots and leaves, and with luck, mushrooms. The walk will start at midday from the car park opposite the Bowling Green pub in Chorltonville, and will last approximately two and a half hours. Consider bringing snacks and a drink, suitable attire, and a collecting basket or container for your finds. The walk will be capped with some sample tasting of our finds.
Jesper will be on-site for the remainder of the day, presenting a variety of spring wild foods and how to prepare them. If you have any queries he will be available to discuss a number of aspects of Wild Food and Herbal Medicine.
Cost £6 adults, £3 children. Booking in advance is recommended.
Saturday 10th April Spring Wild Food Forage in Fletcher Moss Park, Didsbury, Manchester
This seasonal food hunt explores the diverse habitats of Fletcher Moss Park seeking out the earliest and some of the best free wild foods to be found. From the delightfully sweet, onion tinged flavour of Three-Cornered Leek to the nostril-heating intensity of Land Cress, the walk will help to highlight why Wild Food is proving so popular amongst both those looking to re-connect with the land and high-brow restaurant businesses. The walk will last approximately 3 hours and will be capped off with some wild food sampling, with the possibility of seasonal wild mushroom featuring on the menu.
Cost £10 adults, £5 children
Thursday 15th April – Thursday 13th May An Introduction to Herbal Medicine at Neal’s Yard Remedies, Manchester
This introductory course is held over five Thursday evening sessions. The course highlights a foundation of the key principles of modern Western Herbal Medicine. These are presented through exploring a range of important herbal remedies and associated body systems, and looking into the treatment rationales in each case. Sessions include the Nervous system, Digestive system, and the Female Reproductive system. The two remaining sessions will be dedicated to techniques for converting raw herbs into a variety of herbal products such as tinctures, syrups, creams and ointments.
Cost £75 per person.
Booking can be made directly with Neal's Yard Remedies, Manchester on 0161 835 1713. A deposit will be required in advance to confirm your place.
Sunday 25th April Spring Wild Food Day in the Heaton's (South Manchester)
The focus of this day is having fun discovering the spring-time delights of the wild food world. Late April provides a wonderful window of opportunity for foraging, with a vast array of edible plants yielding tender fresh growth, perfect for salads, soups, and as cooked greens. Prepare to be amazed by the wide range of flavours and the exquisite tastes of some of these freely available plants. With keen foraging and a bit of luck we may even locate some of the season’s finest wild mushrooms too. We spend a solid morning in the field making a collection of, and learning about the various species we find. For the afternoon session we move to Studio 17 in Heaton Moor, where we will learn about various methods for best enjoying wild foods before converting our own harvest into delicious edible treats.
Materials to consider bringing include a collecting basket, paper bags, gloves, knife, trowel, pen and paper, camera, boots/wellies, weather suitable attire, snacks and drink.
Cost £45 per person (includes lunch and all handouts)
Thursday 29th April Wild Food Walk in Malham with the Yorkshire Dales National Park
This lovely walk takes place every year in the full bloom of spring. Meeting at the YDNP centre in Malham, the route crosses a stream, then heading over meadowland ambles a couple of miles toward Janet's Fosse, a beautiful waterfall feature of the local limestone geology. The route is rich in both edible and medicinal plants and we will have the chance to sample some of these on the move. Bookings are made by contacting YDNP directly.
Wednesday 5th May Wild Food & Foraging Day at Alston Hall, Longridge
This course offers both a theoretical and practical look at the fascinating world of wild food.
Contact Alston Hall on 01772 784661 or check www.alstonhall.com for further information and bookings
Saturday 8th May Herbs in Flower Walk in Fletcher Moss Park, Didsbury, Manchester
This walk is an opportunity to learn about the large number of our native herbs commonly found in parkland settings in terms of their historical uses, medicinal applications and culinary potential. Late May sees many of our medicinal plants in their healthiest growth as they prepare to burst into full bloom. Amongst other things on the day you will learn how to differentiate between the delightfully fragrant Sweet Cicely, and the deadly hemlock. The walk will last approximately 3 hours.
Cost £10 adults, £5 children
Saturday 22nd May Herbs & Plant Medicine at Ness Botanical Gardens
This course opens up the fascinating world of plant medicine, giving insights into the many herbal applications of both native and non-native species, and offering practical techniques for making the most of garden herbs. A brief classroom introduction will be followed by an extensive herb identification walk where we will make a collection of common and important native herbs for later use. The afternoon includes a further short walk followed by a session making a variety of herbal preparations from our morning’s harvest, including tinctures, syrups and ointments.
Cost £45 (includes lunch and all handouts)
Sunday 23rd May Wild Food & Herb walk with Slow Food west Yorkshire
This private hunt will take place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park at a locations to be confirmed. For information about Slow Food or further details about the walk see www.slowfood.org.uk or contact the regional group leader Gerry Danby on 01422 248863.
Wednesday 16th June Herb Gathering & Medicine Making Day @ Alston Hall
This course looks at the world of native plant medicine and offers an opportunity to work with nature's medicinal treasure chest.
For bookings or further information contact Alston Hall on 01772 784661 or check www.alstonhall.com for further information and bookings.
Friday 17th September – Sunday 19th September Edible Mushroom Hunting Skills Weekend @ Alston Hall
This course will give anyone wishing to develop their skills of foraging a real boost. Expect to gain confidence in how to correctly identify a significant number of delicious seasonal wild mushrooms. As well as classroom theory and identification, we will embark upon a number of local forays covering a range of habitats from woodland to meadow.
Contact Alston Hall on 01772 784661 or check www.alstonhall.com for further information and bookings
Sunday 26th September Mushroom Foray in the Yorkshire Dales at Bolton Abbey
This is a fun, easy, and accessible short walk through Strid Wood, foraging for a broad variety of autumn fungus. No dogs allowed. This walk is held in association with the Yorkshire Dales National Park authority. For more details or bookings contact Grassington National Park Centre on 01756 751690 or e-mail grassington@yorkshiredales.org.uk
Saturday 2nd October Chorlton Food & Drink Festival Edible Mushroom Hunt
Take part in a fun group foray for wild edible mushrooms through Chorlton Ees as part of the Chorlton Food & Drink Festival. We wrap the walk up with an outdoor cooking experience to sample our edible finds. Due to popular demand there are two dates for this walk. Booking is essential for this event. The walk will last up to 3 hours. The terrain is gentle going and suitable for most ages. Meeting opposite the Bowling Green Pub for midday
Cost: Adults £10, Children £5
Sunday 3rd October Manchester Food & Drink Festival Edible Mushroom Hunt
This is a popular walk held in the open parkland of Didsbury and the Mersey Basin. Learn how to identify the good edible species and how to avoid the woodlands deadliest mushrooms! All good edible finds will be cooked up at the end for a distinct and delicious taste experience. The walk will last up to three hours. The terrain is gentle going and suitable for most ages. Meeting at the Wilmslow Road entrance to Fletcher Moss Park for midday
Cost: Adults £10, Children £5
Saturday 9th October Manchester Food & Drink Festival Edible Mushroom Hunt
This is a popular walk held in the open parkland of Didsbury and the Mersey Basin. Learn how to identify the good edible species and how to avoid the woodlands deadliest mushrooms! All good edible finds will be cooked up at the end for a distinct and delicious taste experience. The walk will last up to three hours. The terrain is gentle going and suitable for most ages. Meeting at the Wilmslow Road entrance to Fletcher Moss Park for midday.
Cost: Adults £10, Children £5
Sunday 10th October Chorlton Food & Drink Festival Edible Mushroom Hunt
Take part in a fun group foray for wild edible mushrooms through Chorlton Ees as part of the Chorlton Food & Drink Festival. We wrap the walk up with an outdoor cooking experience to sample our edible finds. Due to popular demand there are two dates for this walk. Booking is essential for this event. The walk will last up to 3 hours. The terrain is gentle going and suitable for most ages. Meeting opposite the Bowling Green Pub for midday
Cost: Adults £10, Children £5
Saturday 23rd October Edible Mushroom Foray with Slow Food West Yorkshire
Location to be confirmed. For information about Slow Food or further details about the walk see www.slowfood.org.uk or contact the regional group leader Gerry Danby on 01422 248863.
Information For All Walks
Mushroom hunting in the rain is surprisingly fun but please do bear weather conditions in mind and bring suitable attire. The walks tend to last about three hours so it is worth bringing a snack and drink to keep fuel levels up. You may also wish to bring a camera along to record the finds of the day.
If you are interested in booking Jesper for a private walk or to give a talk please enquire here.