Written and interviewed by Lucy Cuzzocrea – Founder of Wild Roots Foraging
Photography by Lauren Havelaar
If you’ve joined me on a Wild Roots walk before, you’ll know how passionate I am about connecting people with the plants growing all around us.
As Wild Roots continues to grow, I’ve been incredibly lucky to welcome some wonderful foragers to the team, and today I’d love to introduce you to one of them: Cheryl.
If you’ve not met her yet, here’s a little glimpse into the person who’ll be leading our upcoming Seaham, Prudhoe and Sunderland events…
Photography by Lauren Havelaar
So tell us, who is Cheryl?
“Hi, I’m Cheryl – an enthusiastic forager, nature lover, and slightly muddy-booted wanderer of wild places.
I spend much of my time exploring hedgerows, coastlines, and woodland edges, gathering both food and knowledge from the natural world. For me, foraging isn’t just about what’s edible, it’s about connection, curiosity, and learning to see the landscape in a completely different way.
I run guided foraging walks where I share practical, hands-on knowledge about identifying wild plants, fungi, and coastal edibles, with a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and respect for the land. I love helping people build confidence, turning “I’d never touch that” into “I can’t believe that’s edible!”
Alongside this, I create natural foods and remedies using wild ingredients, from nutrient-rich pestos and herbal teas to mushroom extracts, blending traditional knowledge with modern understanding. I’m especially interested in the medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties of wild plants, and how everyday foraging can support health in a simple, natural way.
At heart, I believe nature is one of our greatest teachers. Whether we’re learning the name of a plant, tasting something new, or just slowing down enough to notice what’s around us, there’s always something to take home, even if it’s not in your basket.”
An interview with the wild woman behind the walks
Photography by Tales from the Trees
How did you first discover foraging?
I started by teaching myself, spending time outdoors and learning about the plants growing all around me. I quickly became fascinated, but I didn’t really have the confidence to trust my own knowledge. That changed when I attended a course with Wild Roots Foraging. The course gave me the confidence I was missing and from that point on I was completely hooked.
What was the first wild food that made you think, “Wow, everyone should know about this”?
Dandelion. It’s everywhere, most people consider it a weed, yet it’s one of the most useful plants we have. The leaves, flowers and roots all have different uses and once you start working with it, you realise you’ve been walking past an incredible plant your whole life.
What’s your favourite plant to introduce people to on a walk?
Meadowsweet. People are often drawn in by its beautiful scent, but then they’re amazed by its history, medicinal uses and how versatile it is. It’s one of those plants that really captures people’s imagination.
What do you love most about taking people foraging?
Inspiring people and giving them the confidence to start working with the natural things growing around them. I love empowering people to reconnect with nature and take a little bit of charge of their own health. Watching someone realise that useful, edible and medicinal plants are growing right under their nose is incredibly rewarding.
What’s one thing people are always surprised to learn on your walks?
How much food and medicine is growing all around them. Most people spend years walking past plants like dandelion, nettle, cleavers and wild garlic without realising their value. By the end of a walk they’re often amazed that the landscape they’ve seen every day is actually full of useful plants.
Which wild ingredient can you not live without?
Meadowsweet and mugwort. I love them both for their incredible flavour and their traditional medicinal uses. They find their way into teas, ferments and all sorts of seasonal creations throughout the year.
What’s your favourite way to spend a day outdoors?
A slow wander with no real destination. Exploring, observing the seasons, noticing what’s growing and gathering a few wild ingredients along the way. Those are always my favourite day.
What’s special about Seaham and Prudhoe as foraging locations?
They’re incredibly different and that’s what makes them so exciting. Seaham offers a unique coastal environment where we can explore shoreline plants and species influenced by the sea, while Prudhoe provides woodlands, hedgerows, riverside habitats and an abundance of seasonal treasures. Between the two locations, there is always something new to discover and each season brings a completely different experience. Whether you’re interested in food, medicine, folklore or simply connecting with nature, both locations have something special to offer.
What do you hope people leave your walks feeling?
More confident, more connected and inspired to keep learning. If people leave feeling excited to notice the plants around them and empowered to start their own journey with nature, then I’ve done my job.
Tea or coffee?
Definitely coffee. Ideally an adaptogenic coffee with a few medicinal mushrooms added in.
Favourite season?
Spring is hard to beat. After a long winter, that explosion of fresh growth feels magical every year. But ultimately autumn wins. I love the colours, the cosy walks, the woolly hats, the misty mornings and that wonderful feeling of the year slowing down. Autumn feels magical in a completely different way.
Favourite wild recipe?
Lacto-fermented wild garlic flower buds. Simple, delicious and packed with flavour.
One wild plant you’d take to a desert island?
Dandelion. It’s one of nature’s greatest all-rounders. Food, drink, traditional medicine and incredibly resilient. If I could only choose one, it would be dandelion.
Most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
I’m still not entirely sure what the answer to this one is! When you spend your time foraging and fermenting, your idea of “normal” becomes a bit different from everyone else’s. I’ve eaten plenty of things that raise eyebrows over the years, but that’s part of the fun.
One thing that always surprises people is that I make “Jaffa Cakes” from jelly ear mushrooms. It sounds completely ridiculous, but they’re actually delicious. Don’t knock them until you’ve tried them!
Tell me about a moment on a walk that you’ll never forget.
One walk I’ll never forget that happened quite recently. I’d never seen an owl in the wild before, though I feel a strong connection to them. I hear them often, but they always eluded me.
The day before this walk, I saw a reel about spotting owls in daylight and thought, “I’ve never had that luck!” Then, the very next day in Prudhoe, as I prepared for a foraging walk, I stepped out of my car, took a few steps, and there, on a branch, was a fledgling owl staring right at me. It stayed the whole time.
Sharing that moment with my guests made it even more special. It’s a memory I’ll treasure forever.
Photography by Tales from the Trees
Join Cheryl on a walk this year
