In winter we don’t always think of there being lots of edible plants around, maybe associating this with spring. But even in these colder months there are many plants you can add to a tasty meal, if you like. Nettles can of course be used to make tea and soup, but young plants can also can be made into a tasty pesto. Sorrel, which looks quite similar to dock, will also have young leaves at the moment and makes a nice addition to salad with a strong lemony taste. The buds of gorse can be picked and taste similar to capers.

On the beaches most species of seaweed are also edible, just be sure to wash them first – some are better cooked but they can all be eaten raw. Thongweed can even be used instead of spaghetti.

It’s great to enjoy some of our wild species when we are out foraging, especially as it can help improve your identification skills and knowledge of the environment at different seasons. Always leave enough for other creatures to feed on and don’t eat anything you aren’t totally sure on the identification. If you stick to those simple rules then winter is a great time to get out and enjoy all the sights, smells, sounds and even tastes our natural world has to offer.