This course is designed to get you as involved as possible - this includes identifying, picking and tasting a range of wild species that will be found on the day. There will also be plenty of wild food and drink for everyone to get stuck into!

This is your chance to do your bit for the control of Himalayan Balsam and in reward for your hard work, you get a massively discounted foraging tuition added to the day and a selection of wild refreshments and snacks!

The focus with all of our workshops is on the 4 'F's of Foraging: Fungi, Fruit, Flowers and Foliage. We aim for an array of these elements on every session we run (weather and season permitting!)

Event sold out or can't make this date? Head to www.foragebox.co.uk/workshops or view our Eventbrite profile to browse all available sessions.

Background

Every year Bollin Valley Partnership and the BEACON (Bollin Environmental Action and Conservation) run a campaign to control the invasive species Himalayan Balsam. This non-native plant is highly invasive, taking over the sandy banks of the River Bollin and beyond. But there is a way to keep it under control! Every summer, armies of volunteers gather to pull out as many of these pesky plants as they can before it has the chance to go to seed.

After three successful years of working together, Forage Box has once again teamed up with the Bollin Valley Partnership and BEACON in a hope to provide some extra incentive to those who want to give nature a helping hand. We are proud to offer a foraging workshop to all those attending the 'Balsam Bash' at a heavily discounted rate, in order to inspire everyone to get stuck in and reconnect with their natural surroundings.

If you are not interested in the foraging element but still want to help tackle the invasive species, you can attend FOR FREE! (Please note that the refreshments will only be served to those with tickets for the earlier foraging element)

So, whether you are part of a local community group, a nearby school or just an individual looking to do a good deed, this is your chance to get stuck in to making a real difference, with the added incentive of a foraging session with an expert!

What To Expect

2 hours will be spent finding, identifying and tasting wild ingredients. This will then be followed by 2 hours of 'Balsam Bashing' followed by the chance to enjoy some wild refreshments. Most of this is made by your tutor in advance, but freshly-picked ingredients found on the day by the group may also be added to give an extra flourish to the meal and allow guests to feel an even greater connection to their food.

DURATION: 4 hours (approx 2 hours of foraging and 2 hours of pulling out Himalayan Balsam, followed by your wild refreshments)

We like to keep some elements a surprise for the day, but here is what you can expect from your foraging workshop:

• a short introduction regarding the safety and format of the day

• discussions around foraging tips, safety, ethics, etiquette, sustainability and the law

• a circular walking route taking in different growing environments around the site. Expect a route of around 1-2km predominantly on footpaths

• a closer look at edible wild species and any poisonous lookalikes by a professional forager

• a chance to slow the pace of modern life down, meet new people and immerse yourself in a soul-nourishing activity, reconnecting with nature and discovering new flavours

• a chance to contribute to the control of Himalayan Balsam in community spaces that really need it.

• wild-inspired refreshments for all those helping out (please contact us with any dietary requirements)

• the enormous sense of pride and satisfaction from helping the British countryside with a like-minded community!

• our workshops are run in a welcoming and informal fashion, where attendee questions and contributions are encouraged

• after the event, you will be sent a follow-up email containing a list of everything we found on the day and a full menu. Please do not expect photos or descriptions in this email - it is purely a list for reference purposes, and we find it helps people do further research in their own time.

Please note: as with most of our events, this is an educational experience and not a 'basket-filling' session.

At the end of the session, there may be a small selection of our wild products and workshop vouchers available to purchase (card and cash accepted). This is a recent element of our events after enough attendees made enquiries about it - there is no pressure to buy anything having already bought tickets but sometimes people want a souvenir to take with them! Please speak to your tutor about this at the end.

Who Is This Workshop For?

These events are perfect for everyone - families, bushcrafters and dog-walkers alike! Nobody is made to feel out of their depth or silly for not knowing what certain things are, so these events suit absolute novices to more experienced hobby foragers alike. For our Balsam Bash events, we need an army of helpers so we want as many people as possible to join in!

We strongly believe that foraging is for everyone, with all demographics welcome, regardless of age, ability, gender or ethnicity.

Please read our FAQs further down the page to find out about dogs, children and mobility.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

KIT LIST: What to bring with you

You will also need to bring gardening gloves or similar and we recommend wearing long sleeves and trousers.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: You will be asked for any dietary requirements when completing your booking. Please note that our workshops may not be entirely suitable for vegans and coeliacs unless you inform us of these dietary requirements in advance - we may use butter or bread, for example. Bookings made within 48 hours of the event start time may not allow for your tutor to cater for specific dietary requirements - please get in touch if this is a concern.

Attendees are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to the destination.

EXACT MEETING POINT: In the main car park (not the one by the rangers hut)

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What3Words: https://w3w.co/wires.fruit.force

PARKING: There is plenty of free parking at this venue. Please be considerate when leaving your car and do not block gates or access for other road users.

TOILETS: Toilets are available at the rangers hut.Please arrive well in time for the start of the workshop, allowing extra time for the distance from your parked car to the meeting point and any toilet trips - we don't tend to wait for late-comers!

Your foraging guide for the day should arrive on site at least an hour before the start and will start gathering the group together approximately 15 minutes before the official start time. If you cannot find your tutor around that time, there is a chance you are looking in the wrong place, so please check the event information for the exact location (not the postcode)

Signage can sometimes be limited, so keep an eye out for anyone with a foraging basket!

Minimum number of guests for this event to go ahead: 12 people

PLEASE NOTE: We do not provide guests with a contact telephone number for your tutor. This is for privacy puropses but also because it is impractical to do so - your tutor simply wouldn't be able to take a call whilst with a group. If you need to get in contact, please use the email function via eventbrite or our website.

Start getting excited!

In advance of your foraging workshop, we thought you might be interested in the following:

Our Field Notes website page

'What will I find on my Forage Box workshop?'

A guide to our workshops formats

Trustpilot reviews from previous workshop guests

Forage Box TV, our YouTube channel

Our website FAQs

Workshop Safety Policy, Cancellation and Other Relevant Information

Our Safeguarding Policy