August foraging guide: best foods to find and recipe ideas

To stay safe while foraging, make sure you’re confident with species identification and do not eat anything unless you are sure it is safe. It’s also important to leave plenty of food for foraging animals such as birds and mice.

Our August foraging guide looks at a selection of Britain’s most delicious edible plants, berries and mushrooms, all found in the British countryside this month.

What is foraging?

Foraging is the activity of finding, gathering and harvesting wild foods – for free. It’s a great way to stay active and spend time outdoors connecting with nature and learn more about where your food comes from.

There is a wide variety of food you can forage for in Britain, including nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and more – read our monthly foraging guide to find out what’s in season each month. 

How to forage responsibly and safely

It is vital to avoid damaging wildlife habitats or rare species, so check you are allowed to forage in the area before starting to pick.  When foraging, ensure you leave plenty behind for wildlife and only pick from an area with a plentiful supply. Only take what you plan to eat and take care to avoid damaging the roots of plants as you pick.

Take a good field guide with you and always be sure you can positively identify any plant before you pick it, and never eat any plant you are unsure of. Taking part in a foraging course with an expert is a good way to learn how to forage safely and responsibly.

Here are a couple of key foraging guidelines:

• Seek permission before foraging. In certain areas, plant species will be protected so it is important to do some research and check with the landowner before you start gathering.
• Only pick from areas that have a plentiful supply. Look for areas where you can find food in abundance and then only collect a small amount for personal use. Never completely strip an area as this could damage the species and deny another forager the chance to collect.
• Leave enough for wildlife and avoid damaging habitats. Many animals rely on plants for survival, so never take more than you plan to eat as this could also deny wildlife from a valuable food source. Be mindful about wildlife habitats and avoid disturbing or damaging.
• Never pick protected species or cause permanent damage. Britain’s wild plants are all protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), which makes it illegal to dig up or remove a plant. Check the law before you forage or if in doubt, why not take part in a foraging class with an expert and learn the basics.

Best plants, berries and nuts to forage for in August

Blackberries

Blackberries are a foraging favourite and have been collected for hundreds of years. Found on bramble bushes in late July, August and September, their berries are black when ripe and are tasty raw or cooked (crumbles or jam are a great start). Brambles grow almost anywhere and can be identified by their thorns and small white flowers. To avoid mistaking an unripe blackberry for a raspberry, check the fruit’s inside; blackberries have a core, while raspberries are hollow. The best blackberries are often found in direct sunlight and pull easily off the branch.

• Blackberry guide: where to find, how to cook and recipe ideas
• Best blackberry recipes

Apples

Abandoned orchards are a great place to pick apples for all sorts of recipes, depending on the type you pick. Trees can grow anywhere from fields to the sides of roads where cores have been discarded. Eat the sweeter apples straight from the tree, while the more sour tasting fruits are perfect for baking.

• British apple guide: traditional apple varieties and recipe ideas, plus how to grow your own tree
• Parsnip and apple soup with cream and crispy sage recipe
• Easy apple and blackberry crumble

Hazelnuts

Ripe hazelnuts can be hard to find due to their popularity with squirrels, so why not pick the greener nuts and ripen them yourself in a warm, dry cupboard? Hazelnut tree leaves have rounded leaves with pointed tips and are soft to touch due to the tiny hairs that cover them. The hazelnuts grown in leafy husks and can be eaten raw after removing the outer shell or roasted in the oven.

• How to identify nuts and seeds from British trees
• British tree guide: how to identify and where to see

Hedgehog mushrooms

Perfect sautéed in butter or oil, hedgehog mushrooms are a tasty find in wet, woodland areas and can be identified by their large caps (up to 20cm-wide). They are pale and creamy coloured, with small spines underneath, similar to the terracotta hedgehog mushroom, which is also edible and makes a great addition to  a risotto. Hedgehog mushrooms have a sweet, nutty taste and can be found in August though to November.

• British wild mushroom and fungi guide: how to identify and where to find

Sheep Sorrel

To some gardeners, sorrel and other dock species are a perennial pest, growing in acidic borders and lawns. But sheep sorrel is great tossed in salads and its arrow-shaped leaves give any dish a tangy twist. Find this species growing in grasslands and identify it by its reddish-green flower clusters. It shouldn’t be hard to find as it is plentiful in both the town and countryside.

Elderberries

Similar to blackberries, elderberries are used for jams and crumbles but you can also make liquor and syrups from the sweet and juicy berries. Raw berries are mildly toxic and slightly bitter so make sure to cook them. Elder trees are small with feathered leaves that grow in opposite pairs with a single leave at the tip. Found in hedgerows, the berries are dark purple to black and form in clusters. To pick them quicker, use a fork to pull multiple off at a time.

• Elderberry guide: where to find, health benefits and recipe ideas
• Elderflower guide: where to find it, how to identify and recipe ideas
• Elderflower and gooseberry jam

Mint

Mint is a flavoursome favourite and there are many varieties native to Europe as well as many hybridised species. Mint likes moisture so grows in low, open areas. Identify it by its strong aroma, or its squared stem and slightly hairy leaves. Once foraged, mint can be eaten fresh or frozen and then used in a huge variety of recipes including teas and relishes.

Dandelion

Although dandelions are most prominent in May and June, they continue to pop up throughout summer. These colourful blooms can cause gardeners a lot of grief, sprouting persistently in herb gardens and vegetable patches – so foraging them is good on two levels. Used traditionally for herbal remedies, dandelions contain all kinds of minerals and are rich in vitamins. Their large yellow heads make them an easy find and they can be used in salads or pesto and pair well with goats cheese, all the while, aiding digesting and kidney function.

Sea Buckthorn

Used by Ancient Greeks for its medicinal properties, buckthorn berries treat skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis and are used in many cosmetic products. The eye-catching berries are filled with vitamin C and can be found in August through to the New Year. Not only are they filled with antioxidants, they are also  bursting with flavour and are found mainly by the coast, but also more inland. They grow on thorny bushes and have a silvery effect to their leaves. Vinegar can be infused with the berries, which preserves their medicinal properties, and they also make a good addition to beverages such as buck’s fizz, adding an extra kick with their slightly sour taste.

Primrose

Primroses don’t tend to grow in shade, so look in meadows and dunes and other areas with direct sunlight. Once picked, you can eat the roots, stems, leaves and petals of the primrose for its healing oils, vitamins and minerals. Primroses are known to aid the function of the immune system and are a native species of North America. Their pretty petals (more likely to be found in spring) can brighten up a salad and their fleshy roots bring the crunch.