The TV shows of Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall or Valentine Warner make foraging look easy. They spend five minutes in a field and emerge with enough grub to feed a family for a fortnight.
I’m not convinced. If I was forced to live off the fat of the land, I suspect that I would be laying siege to the nearest chippie before lunchtime. There are a few events coming up which might change that. On Saturday 8 August, Chris Charalambous, head chef at Cail Bruich in Bridge of Weir, is leading a foraging expedition around the area along with Andy Fraser of the fresh produce suppliers Fresh Direct.
The mushrooms, wild flowers and herbs that they collect on their two hour walk will then go into the pot for lunch back at the restaurant. The foraging party sets off from the restaurant at 10am and the lunch costs £25 a head.
You might need a little more commitment for next weekend’s Green Woodwork Weekend on the Kelburn Estate. A family camp on the moors, participants will be taught survival skills and outdoor cooking.
