It's the time of year when everything turns green and things start sprouting everywhere you look. My favourite thing about this time of year is that the first batch of wild food comes out and it means you can start enjoying the treats which our countryside has on offer.
One of the first things to come out is Wild Garlic, it's grows in deciduous woodland and covers the forest floor in an aromatic bed of green leaves. You'll know when it's nearby simply by the smell. The leaves have a strong garlic flavour, close to that of a raw garlic clove, and go well in salads. The best part however are the flowers and the buds, either open or closed they taste phenomenal.
If you're lucky you may spot a a little plant that looks a bit like a clover, it's called Wood Sorrell and grows in deciduous forests particularly at the foot of Beech Trees. You can also spot it by it's little white flowers which look like snow drops. The taste for me is kind of like tarty apple peel, very nice indeed.
Most trees will be coming into leaf soon, offering more food to enjoy. Trees like Hawthorn, Beech and Lime all have perfectly edible leaves and make up a good lettuce substitute. They taste best while they are young as once the leaves mature they can become slightly bitter.
British woodlands and hedgerows offer an abundance of wild food and with a bit of research you can take full advantage of everything that is on offer. Always be sure to know exactly what it is that you are about to eat and if in doubt don't eat it.
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