Whoever said there’s no such thing as a free lunch has obviously never done a spot of urban foraging. From apple picking to mushroom hunting, there are plenty of ways to find incredibly local produce in London. You’ve just got to know where to look.
The Orchard Project
Every year hundreds of urban trees are cut down, but the Orchard Project is on a mission to reverse that. Working directly with local communities, the team plant, preserve and manage new orchards in London. And you can be a part of it. Throughout October and November you can help harvest apples from their community orchards, learn how to make craft cider, and even pick up a whole ranges of pruning, bottling and community orcharding skills.
Find out more here.
Forage London
Run by veteran forager John Rensten, Forage London is dedicated to giving city dwellers a taste of the wild – all from the comfort of their local park. During an autumnal foraging walk you’ll rummage for roots, nibble on berries and learn how to identify commons plants.
Find out more here.
Wild Brunch Club
Finsbury Park might seem like an unlikely location for a spot of foraging, but according to James Grant it’s teeming with delicious free food. On this weekend foraging walk, you’ll learn all about what’s growing on your doorstep, before heading over to Mac & Wild Devonshire Square for brunch. Sounds like a perfect Saturday morning to us.
Find out more here.
Forage Wild Food
Horror stories about poisonous berries and deadly mushrooms are enough to put anyone off foraging for life. But herbal medicine expert Jason Irving is committed to taking the fear out of wild food. He insists that with the right attitude and plenty of guidance, anybody can forage a free dinner – even in Zone 1.
Find out more here.
OrganicLea
OrganicLea community allotment is perfect for those who want to get their hands dirty in exchange for incredibly fresh local produce. Born out of a muddy plot on the edge of Epping Forest, the allotment has grown into a passionate community of Londoners who are committed to sustainable, organic food. As well as growing and selling their own produce, the cooperative offers an outreach programme for anybody wanting to set up their own community project.
Want to get involved? Volunteer at their community nursery, join an autumn scrumping walk, or attend one of their many horticultural courses. Find out more here.