About The Foraging Course Company

Comments about our courses

 

"A thoroughly enjoyable few hours passed with Kevan in Buckinghamshire on a glorious Easter spring day.
I cannot believe the amount of things available to us and the fact our ancestors would have known much more than we do now.
Good company and an incredibly knowledgeable leader made it a fun, informative visit - thank you"

Colin, April 2023

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"I really enjoyed today's course at Hinchingbrooke Park. The balance and speed was really professional for a large varied group and we made really good use of the time - it was packed with info.
Lots of ideas for me to work with.
Many thanks to Kevan"

Sue, March 2023

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"What a fantastic course. Both group leaders were very approachable and showed a great depth of knowledge. I’d been looking for a fungi focused course for a while and am very glad I found you. Will recommend" 

Ben, November 2022

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"The course far exceeded expectations, we had a fantastic day! Kerry was friendly and approachable whilst also being extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic! 

We learned so much and can’t wait to delve more into the world of edible mushrooms in the UK"

Lou, October 2022

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"I attended a course today with Kevan [he was] extremely knowledgeable and patient, and explained everything very eloquently and in detail yet kept it simple. 

I had been promising to do this for years and I’m so glad I did it with The Foraging Company. I was amazed at the amount of edible plants and berries that I’ve been walking past for years and how they can enhance our food and general well-being. The samples of jam and particularly the spicy [hawthorn] ketchup were a revelation and I will certainly try making them myself.

 

A lovely day and a really helpful and explanatory follow-up e-mail when I got home reminding us of what we learnt"

Martyn, October 2022

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"Great day with Kevan in a great location. Kevan really knowledgeable and the comprehensive course notes helped consolidate the learning on the day"

Alan, June 2022

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"We did a foraging course in Hinchingbrooke Country Park and would thoroughly recommend it. Kerry was a walking encyclopedia and the samples she had brought along were tasty treats. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a woodland floor or hedge in the same way."

Karen, May 2022

 

"Kevan is a great tutor, he really knows his stuff, a true expert. He never faltered during his presentation, it was natural, very informative and entertaining. As a result, I will certainly go other foraging courses, in different areas and at different times of year. By the end I felt educated, confident to forage and inspired to do so. All round it was a great afternoon."

Bob - April 2022

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"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for making your course such a fun and informative few hours. I was taken aback at how much information and knowledge was imparted. My brain felt very full by the end (in a good way), and was very thankful to receive the course notes so quickly after. I especially liked the balance of enthusiasm versus sustainability! 

I had a really enjoyable few hours thanks to your knowledge, organisation and thoughtfully planned tour.

Thank you again, I will be recommending to everyone!!"
Sian - April 2022

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"The course I attended was excellent, and a really delightful way to spend an autumn afternoon. Kerry is a knowledgeable, engaging and well organised instructor, who provided us with a mix of experience, factual information, anecdotes, and traditional lore/stories which could not have been more enjoyable. I hope to attend other courses, and will encourage my friends to come along"

Elizabeth

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"What a fabulous time foraging on Saturday, totally exceeded my expectations. Kerry is supremely knowledgeable about all aspects of foraging, from legal and moral obligations to identifying edible plants and fungi, and more importantly how to distinguish safe from poisonous/inedible/deadly lookalikes.

Looking forward to the next one"

Valerie

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"Kerry we really enjoyed our course with you yesterday. It was bought as a present for us from our daughters. We were really surprised as to how much we learnt. We saw our daughters last night and were amazed as to our recollections of the day.

On our walk this morning with the dog we were continually looking for mushrooms and found several to look up later.

You were very entertaining and your knowledge was wonderful.

Thank you so much"

Clive and Lesley

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"We spent a really interesting day with Kerry learning about food from the wild. First timers, our expectations were exceeded, the experience was both interesting and thoroughly worthwhile. Kerry is a good teacher and an enthusiast for her subject. The ideal way to learn!"

Robert

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"Myself and my son had the great pleasure of being in the group led by Kerry on our foraging course today at Holt Country Park.
Her enthusiasm and passion were infectious and inspiring. She was so knowledgeable and shared this in an understandable and enjoyable experiential way.
Her Elderflower cordial and Rowan jelly were also a welcome treat!
Would definitely recommend"

Laura

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"A huge thank you to Kerry for a fantastic course. Her fun enthusiastic style was contagious and her knowledge awe inspiring, who knew such an astonishing volume of edibles could exist in such a small area, quite literally under our very feet!

I challenge anyone to walk away from this course and not find themselves looking at those grass verges and wooded areas in a different light"

Kim

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"We really enjoyed the Foraging Course in Moseley yesterday. It was a great introduction and it will certainly add more enjoyment of walking in our local area as we can see many of the plants and trees you showed and detailed.

A great introduction and we can heartily recommend it. 

We were really impressed with your back up email covering all the plants we saw with identification and edibility  information and recipes. It was really useful that you added all the details about access, laws and by laws and sustainability which you did in your initial briefing before the walk.

We will book for the autumn course and are looking forward to learning more about mushrooms"

Fran and Alex

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"Thank you for a very enjoyable and informative course. The time flew by and I learnt a lot about the history and uses of many foragable edible plants and leaves. The course is extremely well organised and great value. I have already booked our next course for later in the year"

Ghislaine

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"The day was fantastic and really lived up to my expectations. There was so much really interesting information, not just on edible plants but other incredible usages, as well as reference to plant folklore. I honestly feel confident I could safely identify a number of edible fungi from the excellent tuition. A great day out for the like-minded"

Paul

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"I absolutely loved the foraging course with Kerry. My husband booked us onto the course as a pressie and it's one of his best yet. Kerry was super knowledgeable and her delivery is excellent. We learned about berries, leaf identification, and various families of fungi, and our visits to the forest ever since have not been the same! I look around and see so much more. We have sampled a not red and not blue bolete, fried with herbs and butter and served on toast, and pan fried some common puffballs in garlic, so it is safe to say as novices, this course gave us utmost confidence in identifying some edibles. I came away with an excellent book and have barely had my nose out of it - overall, we couldn't have enjoyed the experience more and are beyond pleased with our new found foraging knowledge. Thank you so much!"

Amy

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"Well what a fantastic course! I learnt many new things and Kerry kept me interested throughout the afternoon. She is very knowledgeable and shares her vast knowledge with you. I’m looking forward to doing my next course with her and tasting her yummy vinegars, preserves and other foraged delights. I’d definitely recommend this course 10/10"
Arlene

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"Had an enjoyable and educational time on the Foraging Course at Holkham Hall in Norfolk. Even with the added 'Covid' restrictions, Kerry delivers the course in a relaxed style and the content is further enthused by her obvious passion for the subject. I would highly recommend attending one of these courses"

Andrew

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"We both felt it was one of the best short courses we have ever been on, in a beautiful and exceptional setting. Thanks so much for devising and delivering the experience"

Kate

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"We had the most enjoyable day today. Kerry was so welcoming and informative. She got us hooked with her enthusiasm and knowledge. It was amazing to taste the things you found. Can't wait to book another foraging trip with Kerry in the Spring. Thank you so very much for a great value experience"

Carol

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"We had such an amazing time! We can't wait to book on another course with you"

Emma and Louise
 

"What a fabulous afternoon we had with you - my husband has found a new passion and is always looking out for the things you showed us. We will definitely be back"

Audrey

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"If you haven't been on a course with Kerry, don't hesitate. She is not only passionate about her subject but incredibly knowledgeable - I have been on several and keen for more!"

Brian

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"Thank you for a really enjoyable and informative course. My daughter and I both left feeling we had learned so much"

Jan

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"We had a fantastic time on your course. Thank you for such an enjoyable afternoon"

Sophie

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"I thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon in May foraging with Kerry in Staffordshire. The course has given me the confidence to forage responsibly and safely. Now I'd like to do a course in Autumn!" 

Elaine

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"A delightful, educating and inspiring talk and walk by Kerry, who clearly has and encyclopaedic knowledge and passion for the world of foraging. It was a door opening on a parallel universe. Keep up the good work!"

Richard

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"Kerry the instructor was so knowledgeable and friendly, made the afternoon really enjoyable. Learned some interesting facts that I have managed to remember! The mushroom soup we all had was divine"

Andria

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"Thank you Kerry for a wonderful, insightful afternoon into the world of fungi foraging. Extremely informative and has definitely given us the bug to do more foraging. Won't hesitate to recommend you to friends and family"

Louise and Ronnie

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Providing foraging courses and instruction 

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The Foraging Course Company was established by lead instructor Kerry Bowness and aims to enlighten people to the wonderful world of wild edibles. We believe it helps people not only to experience new flavours, but to reconnect with and discover a new appreciation of the natural world. We are passionate about natural history and conservation, and will highlight how rewilding can encourage wild edibles to grow.

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Our knowledge has been gained over a lifetime of study of plants, fungi, and outdoor crafting. And, of course, a love of a tasty, varied and more natural diet. This fascinating subject keeps on giving more and more every day. 

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We love sharing this knowledge, and that is why The Foraging Course Company was created. You will experience our enthusiasm on our courses! We have a strong belief in conservation and sustainability, and encourage the introduction of edible species into privately owned and public green space.

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We run half-day foraging course walks; private full-day courses with cooking, workshops, taster sessions; corporate events; private walks; lectures, and wild-food themed events across the country - although we are based in The Midlands.

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The Foraging Course Company does not harvest wild food for sale or offer training to those who intend to harvest wild food for commercial gain. We do not believe this enables the end user to connect to the natural world or that it is sustainable. We are mindful of other species' reliance on edible species in increasingly pressured and declining habitats.

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We are proud to work with and alongside organisations such as The Royal Horticultural Society, The Wildlife Trusts, The Woodland Trust, Natural England, Forestry England, Huntingdon District Council, Ampthill Town Council, William Scott Abbott Trust, The Stonebridge Trust, Moseley Park and Pool Trust, Daventry District Council, North Norfolk Council, and Warwick District Council.

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Our instructors have appeared on TV, on radio, and in print, as well as writing for national and international journals and magazines.

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We hope to welcome you on a foraging course soon!

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