~ on wild food, wild medicine, wild living and the old ways of doing and being ~

Do Dock Leaves Really Work?

The question I’m always asked on my foraging walks when talking about the common broadleaf dock is “Do dock leaves really work?”, “Do dock leaves work on nettle stings? or “Why… Read More

Is sweet woodruff poisonous?

Posts about sweet woodruff are often accompanied by toxicity warnings and advice not to take it with warfarin or to check with your doctor first. So I thought an article… Read More

How do dock leaves work?

I’ve already written extensively about the right way to use dock and how powerfully it works. The trick being to use the gel found inside the young, furled leaf sheath… Read More

All Recipes, Wild Food Recipes

Laver Cakes Recipe

This is a delicious breakfast snack. A twist on an old Scottish breakfast classic and a great way of making sure that you get your daily dose of the vital… Read More

Wild Medicine Info

I recently received the following letter from Paul Lister, contemplating the lessons that we need to learn from the coronavirus outbreak and our relationship with nature. Paul runs the Alladale… Read More

Wild Medicine Info

A Self Help Approach to Migraines

Migraine headaches can be caused by a variety of reasons. Food allergies, nutritional deficiencies, low blood sugar, overwork, stress, poor sleep, diet and exercise. Some of the usual suspects include… Read More

Wild Medicine Info

Valerian – Valeriana officinalis

Valerian is so good for anxiety that Valerian B.P. (made to British Pharmacopeia standards) was handed out to civilians in air raid shelters during the First World War. At high… Read More

plantsarecool

Hair Ice in Wales

I was recently contacted by Neville Davies from South Wales who discovered something unusual in his local woods this January. Neville sent me the photo below and writes: “On January… Read More

Wild Medicine Info

Monkshood (Wolfsbane) poisoning

Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) also called Wolfsbane, is pictured here growing in a hawthorn bush. This is a very poisonous plant. Aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine and other alkaloids have potent cardiotoxins and… Read More

Wild Medicine Info

List of Japanese mushroom names

I’ve always been intrigued by the poetry of Japanese names for mushrooms. beyond the top five edibles I couldn’t find a detailed list in English. Here is my list of… Read More

Wild Booze recipes

Rose petal vodka

Roses are in full bloom at the moment and are an essential ingredient in wild cocktails. Wild rose vodka infusion can be added to crushed raspberries to make forager John… Read More

Wild Food Recipes, Wild Medicine Info

Rose hips: Winter ‘Vitamin C’ Syrup

Rose hips are extremely high in Vitamin C and also contain Vitamins A, D (made by sunshine and often missing in the winter months) and E, as well as antioxidants.… Read More

Wild Medicine Info

Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowsweet is now coming into bloom along the stream here at Wychmoss. It’s original Latin name was Spiraea ulmaria which is where the name A-Spirin (aspirin) comes from as chemists… Read More

Wychmoss - the Project

Early thoughts for life in the woodlands

Don’t you love the early stages of any project? All the research, playing with ideas, planning, dreaming and scheming. Next week we will all get together to share our ideas.… Read More

Wychmoss - the Project

Wychmoss update – Signs of Spring?

It may be mid-winter here at Wychmoss. with cold, crisp frosty days the norm, but Coltsfoot buds are appearing in warmer, sheltered spots on the edge of my woodland to… Read More