3. FOODIE ADVENTURES: Forage with an expert

I love foraging but I'm still a long way from being an expert. There is simply so much to know that it can be overwhelming if you head off into the woods or onto the seashore on your own. It's the reason I stick to one or two mushrooms, a few bits and pieces of seafood, seaweed and a handful of plants I know are safe. Imagine then, going out onto the beach or into the fields in the company of an expert. It is enlightening and humbling at the same time. Enlightening because you will learn more than you ever could alone. Humbling because at the same time you get to understand just how little you know and just how much collective knowledge about our surroundings has been lost to all but a few.
I went for a day out in South Devon with my friend Fraser Christian when I was writing The Camper Van Coast. He runs the Coastal Survival School and he's an expert at coastal survival (hence the name). We walked along the seashore for a few hours, talked about seaweed and seashore foraging, then cooked up a few morsels. I loved every minute of it.
Foraging is a very hearty and satisfying thing to do. For those of us who have become disconnected it can help to tune us in to the seasons. It teaches us to respect nature. It engages our curiosity. Once you have tried one thing it's inevitable that you should want to learn more, which means you begin to read books, talk to people with the same interests and ask questions. It's a slow process and shouldn't be rushed - you don't want to make mistakes - but it can also be a fantastic day out in nature.
So get someone to show you the way - and make it into another Great British Adventure.