Welcome to Wild Notes, my monthly letter to everyone following Wild Revival. I’m Jo, a forager and creative who finds both relief and inspiration in Nature, and this publication is where I share my seasonal noticings and plant wisdom with you. Think of it as a gentle prompt to get outside and interact with Nature in a way that feels nourishing to you. I’m so glad you’re here!
Hello Wild Ones! These Wild Notes are a little later than I had planned: I’ve been somewhat derailed emotionally the last couple of weeks and I’m just finding my footing, my centre, again. How have you been this month so far? Perhaps you’ve been sowing seeds for the garden, getting back into exercise routines or regular walks, or doing a bit of foraging? This time of year is so full of hope, and despite the setbacks and struggles I’ve been experiencing in my life, there are some things that Nature brings us as a balm for the soul. Our job? To notice them.
Things I’ve been noticing…
White Violets grow in Berwick, and they are so sweet and small you may not have seen them before. Harder to spot than the more common purple ones, simply because they don’t catch the eye as much and blend in more with the woodland floor! Violet season is one of my very favourite times of year, a cherished season-within-a-season, as they last for less than a month. They have a beautiful sweet scent and the flowers and leaves are edible and medicinal, and taste ore peppery than you’d imagine! Only pick a flower to eat if there really are plenty of these around, as the pollinators are loving them right now.
Nettles are now lovely and lush, and perfect for picking for soups and teas. They are powerhouses of Vitamins and Minerals, absolutely packed with vital components for our bodies like Iron, Calcium and Magnesium. The sting is caused by formic acid in the little hairs that cover the plant, that release their irritants when we brush against them and crush the hairs. You can wear gloves or take scissors with you to harvest Nettles! I’ll be popping onto a live video here on Substack to chat more about Nettles next week - details below.
Dandelions here in Berwick have just suddenly showed all their faces to the lovely sun we’ve been having! They have really brought me so much simple joy, I just drink in the bright yellow as I look at them.
What’s in my foraging basket?
Time to bring back this little segment! The foraging season is well underway and I’m picking things almost daily to add to my meals or the teapot.
Wild Garlic and Few-Flowered Leeks are featuring heavily, to be blended into pesto and sauces. Dandelion, Deadnettle, Primrose and Violet flowers are garnishes or little walking snacks, Dandelion leaves have been coming into the kitchen to make bitters or go in a salad, Common Sorrel and Wood Sorrel are lovely lemony salad editions, and Nettles have been mostly appearing in tea and soup.
Foraging with friends
I led a wonderful foraging walk alongside
for Flow in Felton last week; we gathered such a harvest, put the Nettles, Garlic Mustard and Wild Garlic into Becca’s homemade lentil soup, and then chopped the others together for a sort of soup-topper salad which was delicious!
I also had a beautiful afternoon with my partner and sister in the woods, making Wild Garlic and Nettle soup on the fire. Everything tastes better outside!
Forage with me
I would love to take you foraging, too! Here are some upcoming foraging walks that I am running for Berwick Slow Food which are free for Slow Food UK members, or you can buy a ticket. The first one is on Sunday 4th May, and we meet at Northern Soul Kitchen from 10 to get a hot drink, leaving for the walk at 10.15. Email to book: community@berwickslowfood.org
Wild Hygge will be on Sunday 18th May from 2pm, message me to book in to secure your place. We will hopefully be cooking on the fire!
If you’d love to learn with me, but are too far away from beautiful Northumberland, then why not join the Wild Revival membership? I send my community extra posts on wild plants and noticing nature, which go deeper into how (and why) to identify, harvest and use wild plants from where you live. You were always meant to live like this - grounded, rooted and perfectly in tune with Nature and the seasons - and we are journeying there together. You don’t need to learn, you just need to remember.
Thankyou for being here on my email list! You are so so welcome here, and I hope that I’ve inspired you to get out foraging. If you missed it, the last post I sent out contained a free gift, read it here.
See you outside,
Jo xxx
Thank you for sharing this. Love the photos and learning about the plants.
I didn't know that about violets. Thank you 😊