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Growing wild that is edible in the UK?

S

Strawberry Hunter

master brummie
Inspired by a post in the gardening 2023 thread. It would be interesting to see what grows wild in the UK that we can eat.

Blackberries, it's a start I suppose!
 
see also what you can eat

IN OUR GARDEN 2023

A, very pleasant, 18 deg. here, although rain has been forecast all morning. We have just enjoyed a BBQ steak, and are settling in to watch the tennis. I did snap a pic, or two, of an unusual (for us), visitor to the garden. Needless to say,the Starlings were about. Steve.
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
Elderberries contain high levels of fiber. Consuming elderberries as part of a healthful diet may lead to some health benefits, including protection from cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. However, do not eat raw elderberries, as they can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
1693908815429.jpeg best made into wine for pete:grinning:
 
I would suspect most of the plants that will be mentioned in this thread are obtainable in and around Birmingham. I have seen Fennel growing under the M6.

“Leaves add an agreeable flavour to vegetable dishes, especially to fish. Can be used for fennel honey and liqueurs, and for scenting soap.”


IMG_3060.jpeg
 
Richard Mabey, Food for Free is good. His advice, having double checked identification, is to try a very small amount of new foods to see if it agrees with you. My son and I ate raw sea kale, which has a strong cabbage salty taste, without ill effects. (Best washed in tap water these days given the state of the coastline!)

Every part of the yew tree is poisonous with the exception of the red fleshy berry (but you must not chew or swallow the hard 'seed' inside the berry.) To my mind they don't test of anything much, so having satisfied my curiosity I leave them alone. Son was 17 before he told me about this and I wouldn't eat them in front of children.
 
Laverbread is a welsh delicacy produced from an edible seaweed, cooked with sea salt and canned. Traditionally eaten fried with porridge oats and served with eggs and bacon.

fry'd seaweed na i dont think so:(
 
Stokkie said:
Richard Mabey, Food for Free is good. His advice, having double checked identification, is to try a very small amount of new foods to see if it agrees with you. My son and I ate raw sea kale, which has a strong cabbage salty taste, without ill effects. (Best washed in tap water these days given the state of the coastline!)

Every part of the yew tree is poisonous with the exception of the red fleshy berry (but you must not chew or swallow the hard 'seed' inside the berry.) To my mind they don't test of anything much, so having satisfied my curiosity I leave them alone. Son was 17 before he told me about this and I wouldn't eat them in front of children.
Click to expand...

Thanks for bringing attention to the fact that some plants are not edible and in fact poisonous, so we have to be careful. There are of course those plants that are not edible but are used in medication.

Also there are plants with very interesting stories.
 
[Non-edible] Scarlet pimpernel (Anavallis arvensis)

Other names Old Man’s Weathervane, Poor man's weatherglass. (Picture from Himley Estate)

A common and widespread creeping annual of cultivated and bare waste ground, this has long been known as a combined sundial and weather-glass, opening its red petals at about 8 a.m. and shutting them at two in the afternoon or if the weather becomes dull or wet.


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