Safety & Legal Advice
UK and Local Bylaws that affect foraging.
It is illegal to dig up any kind of root growing anywhere in the UK unless you have the landowner’s permission; you are not allowed to uproot anything you may be picking from either.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Theft Act it is illegal to pick wild food from anywhere in the UK to sell unless you have the landowner’s permission.
You are allowed to harvest fungi (if not protected), fruit, leaves and foliage, and flowers for your own consumption from most common land, but check local bylaws first and make sure you have the permission of the landowner if you are on private property. For a forager, this means making sure you research the areas you go to thoroughly and read any available signs.
It is not legal to forage on any cultivated area such as farmland or orchards unless with the land owner’s permission.
Do not deplete the natural environment when foraging, remember to only take a small quantity of whatever you need, leaving enough behind for the local wildlife, and to ensure that you do not wipe out a habitat, plant or species from an area.
Use common sense and have respect for the plants and the area you are picking in.
Nothing in this website encourages you to contravene any of these laws. They are there to protect landowners and nature.
Never forage for foods or plants at roadsides, find healthy areas away from pollution, traffic, and fields that are sprayed with pesticides or fertilizers.
Do not pick from places that dogs may use as a toilet.
Wear protective suitable clothing, remember that there may be poisonous or dangerous plants within the vicinity of the plant you may be working with, thus making it essential that you know not only the good plants but should educate yourself on what is dangerous.
Remember that some plants have deadly lookalikes, it is your responsibility to know what you are doing.
When foraging for wild food, you must be able to correctly identify what you are picking, otherwise, you should never eat it or use it on your skin.
Never eat any wild food without multiple sources of positive identification do not eat any wild plants or mushrooms just from viewing this website.
SOME WILD PLANTS AND MUSHROOMS IN THE UK ARE DEADLY POISONOUS.
You use the content in this website at your own risk, this website and its owner will not be held responsible for any harm that you may bring to yourself.