The British Wild Food Festival: a review of the 2025 event
At a sharp bend in the road, we met Sam, who told us to head for the “orange stuff” to find our pitch. Intrigued and with hazard lights conscientiously flashing we edged forward and entered a woodland wonderland.
The British Wild Food Festival was the work of force of nature Sam Webster, who rose to the challenge of staging a wild food festival with courage, an irrepressible will, good humour and the help of a handful of volunteers.
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The site had been decorated with giant daisies and mushrooms, streamers fluttered and exotic “blossoms” hung from branches; it was like stepping into a fairy story. The forest folk whom we encountered were not from the world of magic, but all shared a love of the bounty of nature and a connection with the environment. There was a deep sense of belonging in the wild and vibrant green space of the park, an understanding of what was offered and what we need to give back, to protect, to nurture.
Sue from Netherton on the demo stage
Throughout the weekend there were walks, talks, demonstrations, tasting, activities for all ages. There were opportunities to eat, drink, shop, make new friends, explore and quite simply, breathe.
We were surprised and delighted to be asked to open proceedings on the demo stage, where Sue cooked up duck breasts with last season’s foraged damsons and blackberries, retrieved from the freezer and accompanied it with a glorious green tangle of sautéed chickweed, cleavers, dandelion, fat hen and nettles. “So much tastier than supermarket spinach” was one appreciative comment”. Many thanks to Lisa, the fabulous forager of Edulis Wild Food for her insight into the wild biome diet she is following.
Lisa (Edulis Wild Food ) and Sue
It was as ever a thrill to catch up with Valentine Warner, to sit with others on straw bales in a wooded shelter and listen to him talk about the power of being outdoors, his love of the countryside, his views on rewilding and read passages from his book, The Consolation of Food.
Sam from British Wild Food Festival and Valentine Warner
Hawkstone Park Follies is a fascinating place to visit, whether or not the foraging folk are in attendance and we would not be at all surprised if you spotted any mystical beings among the trees.
