The Sunday afternoon foraging walk with Kevin Godby delivered! The plants, the warm sunshine, the good humoured ramblers and our amiable and knowledgeable guide came together – and a good time was had by all. By now some of you know Kevin brings along experimental tidbits from his foraging using the local plants and he didn’t disappoint!
There may be another walk in the autumn, depending on how dry the summer is – or isn’t. Watch this space!
And thank you to Angela and Sandra for the photos…
Dig out the boots and join one of the Spring Walks and Talks planned: Birds, trees, flora foraging and bats!
Full details for each walk will be up in the park notice boards, emailed to members and on this site as they come up.
All walks are now free but donations to support park projects are gratefully accepted.
Meet at Garland Road entrance This free walk will take about 1.5 hours and finish at the car park off Plum Lane.
Kevin Godby of GCDA leads the walk, suitable for beginners or those who want to revisit his Autumn foraging trail of last year in a new season. You will learn to identify around 18 common forageable species, be shown where they grow and taste some of them too!
You may also bring along something to take home the things you come across, if you wish. A small teaspoon might be handy too…
Please wear suitable footwear and be aware we will be walking uphill. This walk is aimed at adults. If you have questions about the route re mobility please contact werfsp@gmail.com so we can help. No dogs, please.
This is an all-weather walk!
Sunday 10 September saw the much-anticipated Foraging Walk take place at Shrewsbury Park. Around 35 local people attended the walk to learn which hedges, plants and trees to forage from, but also those to avoid. The park offers a huge array of plants which can be used as food in a raw state, cooked, or in the form of teas. Amongst others they sampled cherry plums, hops, sloes, ground elder, burdock, horseradish, yarrow and raspberries.
Kevin Godby, a local expert who works for Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA) on their Growing Greenwich Project demonstrated how to find the seeds, berries and fruit and how to safely consume them. He shared home-made jam and produce that he had made from berries found in the park, pointing out where they grew as he went along the trail.
Kevin said: “It’s important to remember that foraging is about eating a little from a range of different fruit and not lots from one place, as the body needs variety and too much from one place can tip the balance the wrong way.”
Kris Inglis, Chair of FSP said “we have all learnt so much about what we can and can’t consume from the hedgerows. It is amazing to find so much in one space, which will change with every season. Until today we knew little of this intriguing aspect of the park.”
Michael Stuart, a keen forager from Kilburn also attended to offer his experience; his key advice is to observe an area to get to know it and see how it changes through the seasons which will lead to a deeper appreciation of the environment. He recommends winter and spring for the variety of fresh leaves available to add to salad.
By Sandra Bauer
Meet at the Garland Road entrance The free walk will take about 1.5 hours and finish at the car park off Plum Lane.
Join us as Kevin Godby leads this introduction to foraging walks, suitable for beginners. You will learn to identify around 18 common forageable species, be shown where they grow and taste some of them too!
You may also bring along something to take home the things you come across, if you wish.
Please wear suitable footwear and be aware we will be walking uphill. This walk is aimed at adults. If you have questions about the route re mobility please contact werfsp@gmail.com so we can help. No dogs, please.
This is an all-weathers walk!
