Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before joining us
Whether you’re completely new to foraging or you’ve been wandering through the wild for years, we hope you’ll find the answers to your questions here.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to help.
🌿 General
What is foraging?
Foraging is the practice of finding and harvesting wild food growing in nature. Our walks teach you how to identify edible and medicinal plants (and fungi in season), forage responsibly and sustainably, and confidently use your discoveries at home.
Do I need any experience?
Not at all! Most people who join us are complete beginners.
Our walks are designed to be relaxed, friendly and suitable for all levels of knowledge.
What happens on a Wild Roots walk?
Every walk is different because nature is always changing.
Depending on the season and location, we’ll explore a wide variety of edible and medicinal plants, fungi, trees and seaweeds. Along the way you’ll learn identification tips, traditional folklore, medicinal uses, ecological relationships and sustainable harvesting practices.
Many of our walks also include homemade wild food tasters, herbal teas or other seasonal treats.
📍 Booking & Locations
Where do your walks take place?
We run public events across the North of England, including North Yorkshire, Teesside, County Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria.
Each event page contains the meeting location and everything you need to know before attending.
Do you travel to private groups?
Yes.
We regularly travel to schools, businesses, community groups, charities, festivals and private parties.
If you have a suitable outdoor space nearby, we’re happy to come to you. If not, we can often recommend one of our favourite wild locations.
Can you organise a venue?
Often, yes.
Depending on where you’re based, we may be able to suggest a suitable venue and foraging location, or we’re equally happy to work with a venue you’ve already chosen.
How do I book?
All bookings are made securely through our website.
Simply choose your event, complete your booking and you’ll receive confirmation by email.
👨👩👧 Families
Can children attend?
All of our 3 hour foraging walks are suitable for children and families, and children under 14 can attend for FREE – although some specialist courses are designed for adults (unless special arrangements need to be made).
A child-friendly event will clearly state on the event page whether children are welcome.
Can I bring my dog?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead around livestock and during any food tastings.
Please check the individual event listing, as a small number of venues or nature reserves do not permit dogs.
🥾 On the Day
What should I wear?
Dress for the weather and expect uneven ground.
We recommend sturdy footwear, waterproofs if needed and clothing suitable for spending several hours outdoors.
What should I bring?
Usually all you’ll need is:
- Comfortable outdoor clothing (waterproof in rain)
- Sturdy footwear
- A drink
- Suncream/hats in hot weather
- Any personal medication
- A notebook if you’d like to make notes
It’s always nice to bring a basket to get into the spirit of things but this is entirely optional.
What if it rains?
Most of our walks go ahead whatever the weather.
Rain often reveals a completely different side of the landscape and fungi certainly don’t mind it!
If severe weather makes it unsafe to run an event, we’ll contact everyone as soon as possible.
🌱 Food & Safety
Can I eat everything we find?
No.
One of the most important things you’ll learn is how to identify plants confidently before eating them.
We never encourage guessing, and safety is always our priority.
Will we be harvesting?
Sometimes.
Harvesting depends on the season, location and what is growing abundantly. We only ever harvest sustainably and with respect for the environment.
Do you provide food?
Many events include homemade wild tasters, herbal teas or refreshments.
Some longer events also include lunch.
Exactly what’s included is always listed on each event page.
♿ Accessibility
Are your walks accessible?
Every location is different.
Some involve hills, muddy paths or uneven woodland trails, while others are much gentler.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact us before booking and we’ll happily advise which walks may be most suitable.
💚 Contacting Us
I have another question.
We’re a small family business and are often out leading walks or spending time with our families, so we aren’t always able to answer the phone straight away.
The quickest way to find information is usually through our website.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please send us an email or use our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
🌼 Still Curious?
Nature always has another question waiting to be asked.
If yours isn’t answered here, we’d love to hear from you.
📧 Email: wildrootsforaging@outlook.com