Foraging in Southampton

Southampton is one of the largest cities in the South of England, in the county of Hampshire, bordering Dorset to the West. It as a population of over 250,000 people and is approximately an hour’s drive from London, and 15 minutes drive from Portsmouth which is located to the East.
Southampton has a busy, historic Port and is lucky to be blessed with some great foraging spots, including the New Forest and Dibden Enclosure.

Good spots to go foraging in Southampton

As mentioned above, Southampton is lucky to be placed in close to proximity to some brilliant places to go foraging. There aren’t too many better places than the New Forest, just a few minutes away from central Southampton. This is a historic forest, making up nearly 30,000 hectares of ancient forest, largely consisting of Beech and Oak trees. It is also considered to be a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Southampton also boasts other forests and parks including Dibden Enclosure, a nature preserve.

Find a Forager in Southampton

Below you will find a list of professional foragers based in Southampton, Hampshire. These are people who are happy to take you out foraging in the local area. Click their profile below in order to find out more about them, and to get in touch with them about going out on a wild food foray.

John Wright forager

John Wright

John must be one of the most well-known foragers in the UK thanks to his appearance on the River Cottage TV series in which he often takes the viewer foraging. Based in West-Dorset, John has also authored several of the extremely popular River Cottage books, including the Edible Seashore, and of course the Wild Mushroom book. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming, and knowledgeable forager in the South of England.

Hometown:
West Dorset

Locations covered:
Hampshire, Dorset

Specialises in:
Mushrooms, Edible weeds and plants, seafood.

forager photo

Your name here?

Are you a forager that operates in the Southampton region? Your profile information could be listed here. Find more info adding your profile at the bottom of the page (it’s free!)

Hometown:
Southampton

Locations covered:
Hampshire (entire county)

Specialises in:
For example: Mushrooms, Edible weeds

forager photo

Your name here?

Are you a forager that operates in the Southampton region? Your profile information could be listed here. Find more info adding your profile at the bottom of the page (it’s free!)

Hometown:
Southampton

Locations covered:
Hampshire (entire county)

Specialises in:
For example: Mushrooms, Edible weeds

Care with Foraging for Wild Foods in the UK

It should go without saying that you must take care when going out to forage for wild food anywhere within the UK.
It’s always important to tell someone where you are going, and when you’re expected to be home by. Check the weather forecast, and tide timetables if you’re foraging in a coastal area. Dress appropriately (prepare for bad weather!) and bring a spare pair of clothing.

There are also laws to be aware of – it’s illegal to uproot any wild plant without the permission of the owner or occupier of the land, under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. Stay clear of any rare of vulnerable species. Ensure you’re aware of any local bylaws that might restrict collection of particular plants or fungi.

Finally: ensure you are foraging with an experienced person and consult several identification books to double/triple check before consuming any foods, particularly wild mushrooms.

I like to only pick a third of what I find when out foraging – leave some for others, including the local wildlife!

Foraging in other Towns and Cities near Southampton

If you’re looking for someone to take you foraging in Southampton you might also be interested in exploring some of these nearby locations – maybe you’ll find some other foragers you like the sound of – or perhaps you discover a new favourite spot to go foraging?!

{Links to other nearby cities to go here }

Click to go back to the Forager Directory.

Want to add your own Forager Profile?

Are you offering professional foraging courses – guided walks in the wild where people can learn about the identification of edible wild foods? If you’re a forager or a teacher of wild foods, we’d welcome you to create your own profile on Foraged Foods.

There’s no cost involved, we’d just ask you to complete a basic profile that we’d include on our website.