A practical and attractive guide to the many edible varieties of wild plant that grow all around us. Whether you think of them as pretty wildflowers or troublesome weeds, wild plants are invaluable for wildlife. Not only are they an essential habitat and nectar source for insects, they are also beneficial for the soil, accumulating trace elements and acting as hosts for mycorrhizal fungi. Wild plants can be also be included in a variety of tasty recipes as unusual and flavoursome culinary ingredients. Written by qualified dietician and horticulturalist, Gail Garland, Foraging for Edible Wild Plants describes more than 50 edible species, from common species, such as nettle, dandelion, chickweed and ground elder, to the less well-known brooklime and wintercress. Gail also shares advice on how to identify wild plants that are harmful to eat, as well as tips on controlling invasive species such as knotweed . The guide is beautifully designed with illustrated notes on appearance and habitat, and attractive colour photographs throughout. It includes numerous recipe suggestions for jams, cordials, pesto, salads and soups, and nutritional information. There are also tips for non-culinary activities, such as making dyes from nettles and soap from soapwort, and fascinating historical facts about wild plants throughout. Foraging for Edible Wild Plants is a charming resource, perfect for gardeners, botanists, cooks and foragers.

A beautifully designed book on wild plant species, filled with colour photos and helpful tips on making the most of the plants we often consider weeds.

About the Author
Gail Harland combines work as a paediatric allergy dietitian with horticultural writing and lecturing. She has a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics and is a practising dietitian. She also holds an RHS Diploma in Horticulture and is the author of numerous gardening books. Gail has been eating the weeds from her garden, and feeding them to family and friends, for around 30 years.

Reviews
A delightful read, well organised, informative and easy to use, successfully filling the hungry gap between books on gardening and those on foraging with inspiring recipes, cooking tips and relevant words of caution for each plant profiled. A welcome and valuable addition to the library of any new or more experienced foragers, gardeners, cooks and weeders. Highly recommended. * Fergus Drennan, Forager *
A very well written and enjoyable book. Gail Harland is quite obviously passionate about her subject and clearly lives it. Small tit bits such as how Himalayan balsam can be used as an Indian preserve known as gulqand, which literally means sweet flowers indicate she has really done her research. This book would be a welcome addition to the shelf of any forager. * Dave Hamilton, author of The Self-Sufficientish Bible *



Book Information
ISBN 9780857845511
Author Gail Harland
Format Paperback
Page Count 192
Imprint Green Books
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 169mm * 13mm