Edible Seashore Course

Edible Seashore Course

Imagine the ocean lapping gently at the shoreline, a warm, balmy breeze stroking your face, your senses heightened as you slowly unwind and relax into your body.

Memories of childhood and care free days, when responsibilities where the domain of ‘adults’, and the freedom to play, laugh and live a joyous existence was uncluttered with ‘modern living’.

Since the time of hunter gatherers, the estuary and seashore where (and still are) the perfect combination for ‘gourmet foragers’.

In a world caught up with ‘speed’, sometimes it is important to take time out, to slow down, and celebrate the joys of life – in like minded company – with open fires, cooking what we have gathered. Wild edible plants, a plethora of shellfish – limpets, mussels, crabs, prawns and other seashore edibles. Good company and good eating.

When, Where & How Much?

What You Can Expect On The Day

The day starts at Budleigh Salterton, where you will be shown and gather the gourmet wild edible plants of the estuary. Food that is served on Michelin star dining tables around Britain. Plants that will have you purring with delight as the exquisite tastes and textures burst onto your taste buds. This is really wild food, gourmet food, celebratory food… the ultimate slow food.

After a few hours, we will go to a secluded beach, where at low-tide we will go rock pooling to gather a variety of shellfish and seaweeds. Then proceed to have an open fire cook-up.

** Please note that the location might change**

About Robin Harford & Chris Holland

Robin harvests wild edible plants on a daily basis. His foraging courses have been highly recommended in the BBC Good Food magazine, Guardian, GQ, Green Parent, Ecologist to name a few. He has taught at Eden Project, and been featured on BBC2′s Edwardian Farm.

Chris, whose knowledge of the wild and outdoor learning is quite simply, second to none, has been teaching foraging courses for over ten years. Chris connects people with nature through practical and playful activity.

What Others Said Last Time…

“Thank you so very much for an amazing day. I have been telling everyone I meet about how magical it was. I can still taste the risotto and the mussels like nothing I’ve ever tasted.” – Naomi Cleaver (Channel 4 & Sky Presenter)

“This is one of the most memorable and pleasurable days of the Summer for me. I am not a lover of vegetables and as such I came with interest and hope for discovering something I would both learn about and enjoy eating. Both of those hopes were fulfilled. The day was very interesting and well choreographed, so that the learning was a real pleasure. I was fascinated with the variety of plants which can be so easily accessed and enjoyed. The lunch was delicious and I am now inspired to look into using them again and to discover more. Most interesting and fun was gathering and learning about the sea weeds which I admire when snorkeling; and they tasted great as well. Overall a great fun day for adults and one which will remain with me for a long time. More please.” – Liz Alsbury

“I really enjoyed meeting you, and your lovely wife, and the other folk in the group. As well as learning how, where, what and when to pick, watching you cook and tasting the food was really the icing on the cake. It’s ok learning to identify plants, and how to collect them, but if you aren’t sure about using them, it’s all for nothing really. Eating a good portion and coming to no harm from it is the best confidence builder I could think of.” – Kathy Owen

“From the outset in the car park it was really eye opening to find out literally how much there is around us that we can eat, and use in a multitude of ways, just walking that first 100m and seeing 8 different edible plants with all their uses was just excellent! Not only was it informative it was also very tasty – the cook up at the end with all our mussels, crabs and veggies was really delicious. I cant say how much I enjoyed it, I grew up by the sea, and I’m kicking myself I’ve only just learned how much of it i could have been eating all these years!” – Ollie Richardson

“Wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Edible Seashore course last Saturday. I live in the West Midlands, about as far away from the seashore as you can get and I have never before waded in pools at low tide and picked mussels and seaweed.  It was an absolute delight for me, and the meal we then had on the beach eating our freshly cooked pickings was out of this world. Many thanks for a delightful, informative day – I’ll be coming back for more as soon as I can.” – Sue Deakin

“Thanks for a terrific and informative day, filled with exciting and eye opening information about plants, seaweeds and seafood, beautiful natural surroundings and all topped off with a terrific wild food feast on the beach” – John Rensten

“What a great course! This is the 3rd course we have taken part in with Robin, that must say somthing in its self. Robin is a true inpsiration and brilliant plant mentor. As soon as the course has finished you just want to do it all over again.” – Andrew & Mandi Hill

“I thoroughly enjoyed the edible seashore day and came away feeling as though I had learned so much. You gave just enough information to allow it to ‘stick’ in the memory, where so often on courses too much information is thrown at you and you only take half of it away. Just from the day I have a new awareness of food, how it works for us and how we have a connection with it. Who knew there was so much abundance right on our door step? I find myself looking in hedgerows and along the beach with a real sense of excitement and I feel it’s an addiction that will certainly be passed down to my children. I look forward to next years days out, which without doubt I will be on.” – Sandra Ryton

“I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say how impressed I was with yesterdays course. The balance of content I thought was ideal for all levels. I have never picked something in the wild, chewed it and thought “That’s bloody good!” before. The knowledge you had available made for an excellent day out and I would not hesitate to participate in another course run by yourself.” – Si Parker

“I’d recommend this course to anyone interested in foraging seafood and wild plants and am sure you’ll come away feeling fresh, excited and inspired as I certainly did. Thanks very much. A wonderful and memorable day!” – Nick Smart

Edible Seashore Course Photos