Definitley May

 

Oilseed Rape

May seems to have brought us four seasons in as many days, including a traditionally cold, wet Bank Holiday, but things are warming up. Bright blocks of yellow oilseed rape fields colour the horizon, dandelions daisies and buttercups add charm to lawns and meadows.

Buttercups and a Burdock

Hawthorn is in blossom; the hedgerows are full of campions and other wildflowers. This floral profusion brings with it the insects, including everyone’s seasonal favourite, the vivid butterflies. Ransoms and Wild Garlick are still available, adding flavour to your cooking, along with Alexanders and other umbellifers belonging to the Apiaceae family.

Hawthorn Blossom

If you are interested in common umbellifers, beware of the deadly poisonous and terribly common, Hemlock and Hemlock Water-Dropwort – AKA Dead Man's Fingers or Fools Parsley due to the similarity of the leaves. If you are new to foraging, spend time (allow four seasons) identifying the different stalks, leaves and flowers, before eating anything you are unsure about.

Butterfly

We should not be surprised that nature has many toxins, and you should only ever eat things that you are sure about. This is one reason I focused solely on fruit and nuts when initially foraging with my son and daughter, when they were young. They were, however, soon able to spot Elderflowers, from a distance.

Elderflower (background) and Hemlock Water Dropwort (foreground)

Elder is truly the gift that keeps on giving. It is fascinating for many reasons but my main interest in May, is the blousy flowers and sweet citrus aroma. I make Elderflower Champagne every year, while my daughter always make Elderflower cordial. These drinks are simple to make, delightful to drink and last throughout the Summer months as a thirst-quenching sunshine staple. Later in the season I harvest Elderberries and make Port wine, to last throughout the Winter months.

Elderflowers

Time flies when you’re having fun, and it seems unlikely that, in the next month, we will be  celebrating Midsummer, while eating delicious ripe, black Cherries, plucked from trees, but I assure you, we will.

Celebrating Midsummer 2025

Finally, I note that NASA has spent billions and billions of dollars, to send a rocket around the far side of the moon, but it was a bit too dark to see anything. A simpler, more affordable way to be the first human to witness something unique, is to bite into a freshly picked, zesty apple (or even one bought in a supermarket). It constantly surprises me; how few people have not eaten fresh fruit straight off a tree. Go now! Do it yourself, and celebrate the miracle that is nature.

Campions and Ransoms

Spring Forward

One of Springs unexpected delights is the sight of Catkins, caught in sunlight, hanging in a hedgerow or dappled woodland, like golden rain. Catkins are tree flowers, commonly a Hazel tree, so later, around September there will be Hazel nuts to gather here.

Hazel Catkins 

The 2026 vernal equinox occurs on March 20, marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Equinox means equal periods of night-time and daylight; the tilt of the earth also brings us closer to the sun. We get longer hours of warmer sunlight up until the Summer solstice. Nature adapts according to the increase in temperature and the dwindling hours of night.

Plumb Blossom

One of my favourite and most apparent signs of Spring is the sudden blossoming of Plum trees and the related Blackthorn. Plum trees in city gardens and roadsides are suddenly filled with dramatic shows of creamy white flowers. The blossom also has a distinctive smell, which reminds me of marzipan (made from almonds, and also related), you can even taste it in a plum flower. One of my long time hobbies is the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun and this name translates as "Beautiful Springtime" and the plum blossom is a related symbol. The key thing with plum blossom is remembering where it is, plums in many varieties and colours could be there later in the season. Blackthorn, which is more common in countryside hedgerows, will supply us with Sloes later in Autumn, allowing us to prepare everyone's favourite Xmas liquor, Sloe Gin.

Magnolia Blossom

Another tree that flowers in urban gardens at this time of year, is the stunning Magnolia, their big blousy flowers are showy but also eminently edible, giving a distinctive tase of ginger. There are lots of different Magnolia recipes including various teas and biscuits.

Ransoms

Less showy but just as tasty plants that appear in abundance in Spring include Wild Garlic and Ransoms, which you normally smell before you see them, typically covering woodland banks or in damp hedges the leaves and flowers can be used in many cooking applications including salads, pesto or just for added flavour in a meal.

Alexanders

Alexanders are an often missed Spring hedgerow gem. Tasting akin and related to the carrot family, it has edible leaves and flowers. The delicious flowers can be fried in batter, the leaves can be fried in butter with wild garlic, a tasty supplement to any meal. A word of caution, you need to be very careful with plant identification, if you are unsure, don't pick it. Several very common but extremely poisonous plants (Hemlock and water Hemlock Dropwort spring to mind), can look very similar to the untrained eye. I spent a year observing the differences, through the seasons, before venturing into eating these plants.

Beautiful Springtime

Elder Flower & Other Forage

Summer finally seems to have arrived. The hedgerows are heady with the smell of Elderflower and we have been busy bottling our cordial and champagne.

Elder Flower

We also collected a load for the Unity Brewing Co, to flavour their, Été  Summer Saison range. 

Elder Flower

This year, I have also been investigating some other, non fruit, forage. Expanding my knowledge base has been a good thing to work on during the Spring.

Jack by the Hedge 

Jack by the Hedge is one of my favourite plants to nibble on while out walking. Its leaves have a lovely peppery taste, perfect for pepping up a salad, and is actually related to mustard. When they ripen, the seeds explode out of the pods on touching.

Jack by the Hedge 

I have also identified Horseradish in the wild, which will add an exciting new dimension to our cooking and diet. The root of this plant is spicy enough to make your eyes water, as well as your mouth.

Leaves of Horseradish

Last year a friend wanted to obtain Angelica root, to help flavour some gin. Understanding this plant meant that I needed to investigate the Umbelliferous, carrot family (Apiaceae) further. 

Alexanders and Cow Parsley

This is very common hedgerow group is made up of many similar but subtly different plants. Alexanders, Ground Elder, Hog Weed and Cow Parsley can all add tasty dietary variations. 

Water Hemlock Dropwort

However, picking and consuming them, at all, is complicated by surprisingly common and lethally toxic Hemlock varieties. For this reason, it is best to learn to identify these plants by their various traits over a whole cycle of seasons, before picking them (using at least three id points), or eating any at all. The main thing that you understand by doing this, is how little you actually know. I was genuinely astonished at how common Hemlock was.