What People Are Saying

“We absolutely loved the course: fascinating and deeply therapeutic. Robin is a brilliant communicator and his courses are excellent value for money too. I can’t wait to go on his Edible Seashore course soon.” – Naomi Cleaver (Channel 4 & Sky Presenter)

“You have so much information to share on wild plants, which I found fascinating.  I am really a beginner in the world of foraging, but it has given me much more confidence in identifying plants which are good to eat, and has broadened my selection of wild salad which was previously restricted to nettles and dandelions! I would definitely like to join you again for another of your foraging courses!” – Pauline McCrann

“Finding your course literally on my doorstep was amazing! Reading books is no substitute for a good teacher and the actual experience of getting in there and tasting. I feel plants have been calling me to interact more deeply with them for some years and this course was kind of the inspiration and permission I felt I needed to really listen to that call. There are others like me out there! So I went out the next day and started exploring and picking and made a beautiful salad and a soup. The hedgerows are an all out explosion of abundance in species and quantity here -very exciting. It also feels really empowering to be able to pick your own wild food. Am really looking forward to attending more of your wild food events, especially the seashore one, as this will be completely new for me.” – Alison Holmbrook

“Thank you so much for the guided walk around Otterton. I’ve always wondered as I’ve walked the dogs in the countryside or even just walking to the shops, and seen the different plants in walls, hedges or growing at the side of the road if they were edible and if so what they tasted like. I attended a bushcraft course a few years ago and learned to identify a few plants and trees which I bored my poor wife with every time she came with me, so to watch someone with such a depth of knowledge and passion for their subject has inspired me to develop my own foraging ability (safely of course) and taste the free seasonal delights that nature chooses to give us (Denise is now pointing out plants too). We hope to join you again soon for another assault on our culinary senses.” – Martin Mills

“The wild food walk took us no more than a mile in 2hrs. In that time we were introduced to over 25 plants that up until now have simply been wandered past or ignored as weeds. Their uses, taste and method of preparation were all covered, giving us a brand new larder to choose from – all free too! I would personally like to thank Robin. His knowledge and appreciation for the natural world is quite clearly without compare and it was our privilege to have entered his world, if only for a brief time”. – John Hayward

“As a herbalist I really enjoyed my two hours foraging with Robin. The group was really friendly with a good mix of experience. I think Robin is doing vital work in bringing a greater awareness of our precious green allies to the general public. I really loved his introduction that we would go and greet the plants in their own habitat and that we all got to pick and experience the plants ourselves. What makes his course so good is that he talks from personal experience of not just identifying the plants but of using them himself at home. If you get the chance to go, don’t hesitate it’s really special”. – Jo Oliver

“Really enjoyed the morning, it was very informative and intensive. We covered over 30 plants in 2hrs which was plenty for me. You have great depth of knowledge which was put across very clearly. – Steve Capewell

“I got a lot of inspiration from the course, it reinforced for me the near magical presence of the natural world around us that we feel as children but can get to be just a memory as we get taller and further away from the ground, more involved with the life of the mind and the demands of coping with life as it is largely lived now. Since the course I have been eating my nettles everyday and feel really energised. Luckily I have a garden that has a few wild areas (well – that sounds more grand than it is – I have not got around to weeding and cultivating so there is a 17 year growth of nettles etc) and woodland to go and wander around. The more I look the more variety I see and like you (I think), feel that there is a whole native knowledge of plants that is there to be rediscovered – hooray for the common ground! I found it very useful to be reminded of some plants that I knew as a child but had forgotten and the tips on what to do with them were great.” – Ruth Beal

“We both enjoyed your foraging walk finding it informative and interesting. It is a subject that we are both keen on exploring further and found that walking with you was akin to an interactive encyclopedia full of fascinating facts on a subject that you are clearly passionate about. We are currently following your advice and trying out different species each week.” – Nikki Booth

“Thank you for a lovely forage. You really opened my eyes, I had no idea how common or easy to find wilds foods are. I am now going out regularly to find the plants you showed us and develop an eye for spotting them.” – Wayne Fantauzzi

“Just to let you know how much I enjoyed the wild food foraging walk, last week. You have inspired me to go out and fetch something for supper everyday. I shall definitely spread the good news. It was fun and above all so very informative. I knew absolutely nothing about edible wild food – ‘weeds’. Now I look at everything in the garden with great respect. You have a wonderful way with plants and your sense of humor is second to none.” – Pam Gonzalez

“Firstly a huge thank you for a brilliant foraging walk on Sunday. We both really loved it. We were both a bit worried that you’d open our eyes up to all kinds of wild foods that we wouldn’t be able to recognise again and that we’d end up too uncertain to do any foraging for ourselves but you have a talent for breaking it down into simple “bitesize” chunks (excuse the pun!) and we are confident we can do some simple foraging without poisoning ourselves. I’m not sure Jono is up to having his bad back treated by being whipped with nettles though! Really informative and inspiring! Thank you.” – Harriet Hancock

“Thanks for a wonderful day. I’d been looking into foraging for a while, and had tried a few things, but the variety of wild foods you were able to show us in such a small area, and the  wonderful meal we cooked together using what we found really opened my eyes to much greater possibilities. My children tried the risotto we made and pronounced it delicious and amazing. I’ll be looking for those recipes on the Eat Weeds site and reproducing them for my family!” – Diana Davies

“I found it totally absorbing and very informative. I learnt a lot about edible plants, seeds etc. and also to have the confidence to experiment. It was definitely the best ‘course’ I’ve done in a long time.” – Alison Kerruish

“Thanks very much for the walk and all the invaluable information! I haven’t stopped talking to friends and family about it. I especially liked the way you combined knowledge about the plants within a historical context. My prior knowledege was practically non existant, but your enthusiasm has inspired me to start ‘grazing’ and learn more! Can’t wait to try a nettle infusion.” – Chris Cooper

“Just a quickie to say how much I enjoyed the wild food walk this morning. The two hours just flew by listening to all the fascinating things you were telling us about the many plants you were identifying.” – Penny Downing

“I just wanted to say thanks, the foraging course was excellent and really good fun. I have managed to identify edible food on my travels and its been most satisfying. I will most definitely be coming back on the next course.” – Neeta Patel

“The walk was highly informative, good fun and to be recommended to anyone who wants to take up eating wild plants or wants to become more aware of their place in nature. A good starting point with a teacher whose infectious technique will have you picking and eating all kinds as you go round. Even in The Byes in Sidmouth there are plants which can polish you off quicker than you can say ‘Water Hemlock Dropwort’. So pay attention and try only that which you’re told by Robin is ok to eat.” – Tim Knight

“It was a very enjoyable couple of hours. I really liked the “gourmet forager” approach; lots of tasty items to add to the plate, some of them very different and unusual, others similar or reminiscent of more familiar foods. After this morning, I’m now confident of several plants, and hope to start from there and build up little-by-little. I’m definitely a fan now of nettles, and will be gathering and using plenty in the coming months, can tell my wild garlic from my three-cornered leek, and will be chomping my way through a few Monterey Pines (and various pine nuts) and Pennyworts.” – Brent Nelson

“Wild foods pointed out and carefully described by Robin, combined with histories or anecdotes lend more than charm to a day in the countryside. Confidence increases as he takes one through a meadow bursting with hitherto undiscovered treasures. The meal which sometimes follows (if one gets lucky) is prepared from the bounty collected and prepared by all—a feast of fresh and vibrant salads, hearty soups, pickles and more. The next day I continued to feel satiated—and not just on the food. I felt a new burst of energy, such as I have never had with frozen foods or supermarket veg. Find out for yourself.” – A. R. Korula, PhD

“Thank you for the fascinating, if wet walk yesterday.” – Linda Murphy

“We all much enjoyed yesterday’s walk & have spent lots of time talking about it, telling other people & trying to remember & identify plants we saw.” – Mary O’Hara

“It was a great morning. It gave me a new impetus and confidence to forage more, to go beyond the ID-ing. Some of the plants I was pretty sure about but that re-inforcement of knowledge made me realise I’m on the right track but still have a lot to learn.” – Richard Knott

“We both really enjoyed you sharing the the knowledge you have obviously spent a lot of time working on, we enjoyed the whole experience and since we met you we have been looking at the plants we see lying around as more of a meal than we did before.” – Matthew Lowry

“I thought today was just brilliant. Since childhood I’ve had a deep, private, personal awareness of wild plants. Out of doors, I’ve always nibbled garlic mustard and alexanders, salad burnet and wood sorrel, and harvested samphire and ramsons to cook, but this was a revelation. Never thought of eating ivy-leaved toadflax or stitchwort. And we touched on interesting environmental, philosophical and spiritual issues.” – Frances Brown

“I was amazed at how much could be foraged in such a short length of lane. The other thing that surprised me was that I had pre-judged most small plants to taste ‘grassy – no flavour’ and this was definitely not the case. Your information of how to prepare/use/cook plants was really helpful. All in all an inspiring couple of hours.” – Nicki Woodgate

“Really enjoyed the walk! Mum said that she enjoyed it so much that it was the best day out that she’s had in ages! It was set at an enjoyable pace and very informative. It was amazing to see plants in a truely differently light. I have always had an interest in plants and wildlife, but I didn’t realise just how many of them were edible and useful to us. My husband and I go on many walks with the children, but now I will be able to see it as a ‘shopping trip’ too! I will definitely be foraging in the future and hopefully for years to come. I love to cook and I love to experiment, salads being one of my favourite and I grow alot of my own ingredients. So I was delighted to discover loads of new leaves that I can add just by taking a quick walk… fab!” – Rebbeca Marcil

“We both really enjoyed the walk, thank you very much! I found it really interesting learning about and identifying the different plants and would love to learn more! I really like the idea of foraging, and eating wild, seasonal food. We would both like to come on another walk soon, and will follow the website and newsletter.” – Sam Brown

“We joined Robin for a foraging walk from Treloan campsite, on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall. The day of the walk, the weather couldn’t have been worse – a low sea mist and a buffetting wind that brought in sheets of drenching rain. Despite all that, we spent a a really stimulating and enjoyable one and a half hours in Robin’s company, getting a first taste of the abundant supplies of ‘wild’ food that surrounds us, on our beaches and in our fields and hedgerows. Robin’s enthusiasm for his subject constantly bubbles out of him together with a passionate advocacy for a more balanced, more sustainable way of living. Our holiday was transformed – now not only seeing and observing the countryside but also eating it!.” – David Blackmore

“I wanted to reiterate just how much I enjoyed your foraging course the other day!  Like many others, I am well aware that we are surrounded by ‘food for free’, but nothing emphasises this as much as going out and looking for it!  Illustrations do not beat plodding along, collecting your own food.  Like the others on the course, I only actually focused on and remembered a few of the plants you identified, but I am sure that we were similar in that each one struck a chord of taste or use!  Hence the plantains, the nettles, the pennyroyal and the two types of vetch made a particular impact on me. Cooking/preparing one’s spoils for lunch was a brilliant aspect of the course, and added to the feeling of camaraderie that this foraging experience created.  Thank you!! ” – Penny Thom

“Thank you for running such an enjoyable and interesting walk. I knew many of the plants you showed us but about half the plants you showed us I had never tried eating or didn’t know at all, so it was great to learn that they were edible and to give them a try. On several occasions in the past I have popped Himalayan Balsam seed pods, not knowing they were edible! As for the other half of the plants that you showed us, that I did know and had tried before, I still found it fascinating to learn all the new things you had to share about them and your enthusiasm for the plants was infectious!” – Thomas Blackmore

“I really enjoyed the walk, the history that you brought into it was fascinating. I have not stopped telling people about it and getting my friends and kids to try various plants. I am surprised by how many of the names I have managed to remember. I went for a walk with a friend this evening and found lots of the plants that we came across on our walk, I must have walked past them a million times before but now they all mean something. What’s more is that I felt really clever with the few little snippets of information that I managed to remember . I will definitely be coming on another outing with you at some stage and will probably be buying a new tree for my garden because I loved the taste of those fluffy seeds we tried on the way back to our cars. (My friend loves them too). Thanks for a very interesting morning, I think you’d do well with a TV series about foraging. My family would certainly watch and enjoy it!!” – Jeannette Sutherland

“We really enjoyed the walk and all the info you gave us. The two hours seemed to fly by! You certainly have a great deal of knowledge on the subject including historical background and we will almost definitely be joining you again for another course.” – Ruth Ord