The Forager’s Journey 2024 – A Seven Part Programme

Foraging Training Course UK

Our Forager’s Journey programme is an immersive seven-part wild food adventure through seasons and habitats, based in beautiful locations around Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. The programme, now in its third year, is for those wishing to delve deeper into the fascinating world of wild food, medicine and plant lore.

 

~Sign up for the 2024 Programme here

 

Programme dates for 2024 are as follows:

  • Sunday 3rd March
  • Saturday 6th April
  • Saturday 11th May
  • Saturday 1st June
  • Sunday 21st July
  • Sunday 1st September
  • Sunday 6th October

Timings for each day 10.30am-5pm

 

Thomas
Participant on The Forager's Journey 2022

"Since I first joined you for a course back in October 2021, my world has completely changed. Foraging is such a huge aspect of my life now, & I truly have you both to thank. The way you two taught not only provided me the practical confidence I needed to ID & prepare food, but helped me find & nurture a deep connection between the land & myself.

Though I've got to say the most unexpected takeaway from all of these sessions was the powerful sense of community I felt. I've mostly gone out foraging on my own, so being able to experience the Forager's Journey with so many others was a great change. But it was definitely more than that. I can't quite explain it, but I left every session feeling incredibly full. Like this is exactly what I (and everyone) should be doing. All of the time. It's given me loads of motivation to create these spaces around me, and I can't wait to continue exploring this side of foraging when the spring comes around. What I thought was going to strictly be a foraging course turned into so much more — and I'm incredibly grateful for that!"

 

The programme includes:

  • A guided journey through the forager’s year, learning how to safely identify and sustainably harvest a wide range of wild plants and fungi throughout the seasons
  • Understanding of what can be found in different habitats, including woodland, meadow and hedgerow. Your tutors will take you to some of their favourite secret locations in the Calder Valley, passing through stunning scenery on foot
  • Practical sessions in processing the plants, nuts, seeds, berries and fungi we find, and using them to make foods, drinks and medicines
  • Practical instruction in fire-craft, from using foraged materials to create fire from a spark to cooking over the fire, whatever the weather
  • Herbalism and plantlore: Using plants and herbs as medicines and items for a ‘wild first aid kit’, following in the footsteps of our ancestors and drawing on contemporary research
  • The folklore & history of the wild foods we find
  • A range of wild food tasters to try each session, from traditional preparations like ferments and vinegars to some of our more modern creations such as wild ketchup and chocolate
  • Reflective time in nature. We will encourage you to form deep connections with the plants and fungi through focused observation, drawing, and engaging all of your senses
  • Rekindling community traditions around collecting and preparing wild foods
  • A three-course wild feast to celebrate the end of the programme in October
  • ‘Wild work’ assignments. These activities will encourage you to stay on the Forager’s Journey when you are back at home between sessions
  • A ‘Forager’s Journey Kit’ containing a journal/ sketch pad, hand lens, stationary and more

 

long term foraging course

Liz
Participant on The Forager's Journey 2022
This was the highlight of my year. We gathered in the magical Calder Valley every season, a group of strangers keen to learn about edible plants. What happened over the course of the year was so much more than that. We journeyed individually and together, created a community, learning from each other, our amazing teachers, and the plant and fungi beings we encountered. We walked, sharing stories of the folklore and traditions of the plants and the land. we sat in circle around the fire, preparing and sharing wild food. I can't recommend this course enough if you are interested in foraging, food sovereignty, herbalism, bushcraft, building your own connection to land with other likeminded folk, or just immersing yourself in the abundance of nature. So much gratitude for this experience and to everyone for making it so special.

 

Registration and Booking:

The total cost for this seven-part programme is £690.

This is payable in either:

  • One instalment of the full £690. Please fill out the registration form and you will then receive details of how to make the payment.
  • A deposit of £190 followed by 5 instalments of £100.

 

You will be guided by:

Live Wild’s Leonie MorrisLeonie is co-founder and director of Live Wild and works with people of all ages to help them rediscover the ‘wild nature’ both inside and outside of us. She is a qualified Bushcraft Instructor & Wild Food Teacher, with many years of experience teaching a range of programmes including regular seasonal foraging courses in locations across the north of England. She also facilitates our Questing With Fire rite of passage programme, and various nature-connection programmes for children. Leonie is happiest when sharing foraging wisdom in a holistic context: using all of the senses, gathering respectfully and playfully with homemade baskets,  building a fire to cook up finds – she is a strong believer that all food tastes best cooked together over a fire!

Live Wild’s Sophie WrenSophie’s foraging journey began during her years living on the inland waterways where, mooring up in different locations, she became fascinated by the different plants, trees and fungi that surrounded her. Foraging fit very well with an off grid and self-sufficient way of living, and soon she was hooked! The unexpected gift was a depth of connection to the wild world that has been life changing. It wasn’t long before fungi became a fascination, and Sophie studied mycology with the Field Studies Council as well as soaking up wisdom from various mentors and elders in the foraging community. She has been teaching regular seasonal foraging courses with Live Wild in West Yorkshire since 2018 and is a proud member of the Association of Foragers

Foraging Teacher Yorkshire

Access:

Please note that the course involves some adventurous walks around the valley, sometimes walking for four hours or so during a day, albeit at a steady pace. The ground will be steep and uneven in places. Please contact us if you are concerned that access may be an issue: info@livewild.org.uk

 

Travel:

Our meeting points will be close to public transport links, easily accessible from Hebden Bridge centre.

 

Cancellation policy:

Please ensure you can fully commit to this course and all of the sessions before booking. The deposit is nonrefundable under any circumstances. If a booking is cancelled more than three months before the start of the programme then all monies paid after the deposit will be refunded.
If the booking is cancelled within three months of the course date: monies paid after the deposit will only be refunded if Live Wild are able to fill the place on the programme. Should we be unable to fill the place, we cannot offer a refund.