Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th June 2012

You get more than exercise and stunning views when you go out for a country walk with Rachel Lambert.

Whether you are in woodland, pasture or walking along the coast, you will learn to look at the countryside in a new way.



For our fields, hedgerows and forests are full of wild plants that can be picked, cooked and eaten to add variety and extra nutrition to our regular meals.

And that’s just what people will discover when Rachel leads them on a ramble around and about the Caerhays estate in Cornwall towards the end of June.
Not only will they be encouraged to pick and taste the plants out in the wild, but they will then take them back to base where they will help cook up a three course meal, using their field-fresh ingredients.

This two-day foraging event is based at the five-star Vean lodge on the Caerhays estate and, says Rachel:
The foraging walks will pass through the gardens at Caerhays and onto the local coastal path and beach, allowing time to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and at the same time to discover how to identify and use the abundance of delicious edible plants and wild food available.”

Click here for recipe ideas.


Rachel, from Penzance, is “passionate about taking people out into nature and to get them seeing, tasting and touching things that look like they are nothing but weeds.

“They see the countryside in a new way; there’s an amazing array of things out there – a real natural bounty.”

Self taught, Rachel has a background as an artist, which, she says, gives her an ability to look beyond the overall scene and to see and understand the detail. This is one of the skills she enjoys passing on to others.

“I get asked how much wild food I eat and the answer is I would usually eat something every day. In fact, eating the countryside is a great way to appreciate it!”
The countryside offers good pickings throughout much of the year, says Rachel. Little stands in the way of her foraging – although snow can be a bit of a barrier!
Those signing up for the walking and foraging event will enjoy three meals with foraged ingredients. Rachel will also explain the nutritional and medicinal value of many of the plants they pick.

“I love the teaching aspect of what I do. Being able to look and cook is a creative process and after they have been through the process with me, people often tell me they will never look at a hedgerow in the same way again,” she said.

“The big focus of these two days is food - enjoying the fruits of our harvest - good, fresh, local food. The walks will revolve around collecting ingredients for a three-course dinner, and a light two-course lunch.”

The food will be far from survival style. Rather, the wild ingredients will be incorporated into familiar dishes, including excellent local meats, vegetables and fish, to bring out the best of the wild flavours and create an all-round, satisfying experience!

Nicola Humphries – joint manager and chef at the Vean – will be developing the meals to incorporate the wild ingredients.

The event takes place at The Vean, on the Caerhays estate, which lies on the southern coast of Cornwall between Mevagissey and St Mawes on the 26th and 27th June. B & B accommodation is available at the Vean.  For more information contact the Caerhays Estate office on 01872 500025 or email enquiries@caerhays.co.uk