There’s something magical about gathering food straight from nature whether you’re snipping fresh herbs from your garden or spotting edible plants on a countryside walk. Wild edibles are nutritious, sustainable, and often surprisingly easy to grow or forage responsibly.

At Wild Roots Gardening, we’re all about reconnecting with nature and what better way than through wild food?

🌿 Why forage or grow wild edibles?

Free food! Many wild edibles grow abundantly and require little effort.

Nutritious and fresh: Wild plants are often more nutrient-rich than cultivated varieties.

Supports biodiversity: Growing native wild plants in your garden benefits pollinators and local wildlife.

Deepens your connection with nature: Foraging encourages mindfulness and awareness of the seasons.

🔍 Foraging basics: Safety first!

Before we dive into what to forage, here are a few golden rules:

Only eat what you can confidently identify never guess!

Pick responsibly: Only take what you need, and never strip an area bare.

Avoid polluted spots (roadsides, dog-walking areas, or sprayed fields).

Follow the law: In the UK, you can forage for personal use but not to sell or dig up roots on private or protected land.

🍃 Top wild edibles to forage or grow in the UK

🌼 Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Forage: Leaves, flowers, and roots are edible.

Grow: They’ll pop up on their own! Harvest young leaves for salads, or roast the roots for tea.

Taste: Slightly bitter  like chicory or rocket.

🌿 Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Forage: Wear gloves! Pick young top leaves in spring.

Grow: Leave a patch wild in your garden. Nettles support butterflies, too!

Use: Great in soups, teas, or as a spinach substitute once cooked.

🌳 Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)

Forage: Found in shady woodlands in spring.

Grow: Loves damp, shady corners. It’ll naturalise over time.

Use: Leaves and flowers are perfect in pestos, salads, and risottos.

🌿 Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

Forage: Found in meadows and hedgerows.

Grow: Easy to cultivate in garden beds or pots.

Taste: Zingy and lemony lovely in salads or sauces.

🍓 Wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca)

Forage: Tiny, sweet berries from hedgerows and woodland edges.

Grow: Makes a lovely groundcover. Delicious and low-maintenance.

Use: Eat fresh, pop into desserts, or infuse in drinks.

🌿 Jack-by-the-Hedge (Alliaria petiolata) / Garlic mustard

Forage: Common along footpaths and woodland edges.

Grow: Often arrives on its own. Biennial herb with garlicky leaves.

Use: Chopped in salads or mashed into butter.

🪴 Easy wild edibles to grow in your garden

If foraging’s not your thing (or you'd like more control), try growing your own wild food at home. It’s a great way to attract pollinators, too!

Chickweed – A mild green that grows in most gardens.

Sheep’s sorrel – Tart and lemony, great in pots or wild patches.

Good King Henry – A traditional perennial veg that’s rich in iron.

Wood sorrel – Beautiful clover-like leaves with a citrusy tang.

Fennel – Not wild, but it’s naturalised in many parts of the UK and a brilliant herb to grow.

🧺 Foraging tips & etiquette

Take a basket or cloth bag  plastic makes wild herbs sweat.

Use scissors or a small knife to avoid damaging roots or plants.

Leave enough behind for wildlife (and other foragers).

Always double-check IDs use a guidebook or trusted app.

Start with easy-to-recognise plants, like wild garlic or nettles.

🍲 Wild and wonderful recipe ideas

Nettle soup with garlic and potatoes

Wild garlic pesto with pasta or toast

Sorrel sauce for fish or veg

Dandelion flower fritters

Foraged salad with chickweed, sorrel, and violets

🌍 Tread lightly, harvest mindfully

Whether you’re nibbling on wild garlic in a woodland or growing your own dandelion greens at home, wild edibles offer a beautiful way to connect with the seasons, slow down, and enjoy nature’s gifts respectfully and sustainably.