Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland

Book excerpt: For over fifteen years I have experimented and explored the world of wild plants. Uncovering how our ancestors used plants to nourish and heal themselves. I've spent thousands of hours digging through scientific papers, read hundreds of books. Even gone so far as to be nomadic for over a year. During this time I followed the seasons and plants around the highways and byways of these isles. I have written this book to help you rediscover our forgotten plant heritage. To learn how to use wild plants as food and medicine. Knowledge that was once common to everyone. A NOTE ON PHOTOS Most wild flower books only provide one photo of each plant for identification. Then a little bit of botanical description. Usually using words that don't mean anything to anybody, unless you are a botany geek. To forage plants safely, you need a specialist plant identification book. Which is why in this book there are no pictures, nor a botanical profile. NICE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE PREVIOUSLY SAID Robin's infectious encyclopaedic enthusiasm is borne from complete commitment to his chosen field. - Michael Kusz You transported us to a whole new level of awareness of not only the plants we got to see, smell and taste, but also the relationship that is possible with our natural environment that most of us have lost over just a single generation. - Richard & Debbie Stansfield My love of the plants and my interaction with them was given a massive boost by your knowledge. - Pip Martin ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robin Harford is a plant-based forager, ethnobotanical researcher and wild food educator. He has published over 50 foraging guide books. He established his wild food foraging school in 2008, and his foraging courses were recently voted #1 in the country by BBC Countryfile. Robin is the creator of eatweeds.co.uk, which is listed in The Times Top 50 websites for food and drink. He has travelled extensively documenting and recording the traditional and local uses of wild food plants in indigenous cultures, and his work has taken him to Africa, India, SE Asia, Europe and the USA. Robin regularly appears on national and local radio and television. He has been recommended in BBC Good Food magazine, Sainsbury's magazine as well as in The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph etc.