July Foraging

1. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Where to Find It
Chickweed grows low to the ground and loves damp, shady spaces — gardens, verges, and waste ground.

What to Pick
The crisp, tender leaves and tiny white flowers. Best harvested young before flowering in hot weather.

How to Use It

• Eat raw in salads or pesto
• Use as a spinach substitute in stir-fries and soups
• Make a cooling chickweed salve for irritated skin

Health Benefits
Nutrient-rich and high in vitamin C. Anti-inflammatory and soothing both internally and externally.

Storage
Use fresh or keep in the fridge for 2–3 days. Not suitable for drying.

2. Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)

Where to Find It
Found in shady woodland, especially beneath beech or oak. Look for its distinctive heart-shaped leaves and white-pink veined flowers.

What to Pick
Leaves and flowers — but use sparingly.

How to Use It

• Garnish salads and fish dishes
• Add to wild sorbet for a citrus zing
• Use in small amounts to add acidity to sauces

Health Benefits
Refreshing, high in vitamin C, but contains oxalic acid — so best in moderation, especially for those with kidney concerns.

Storage
Use immediately; do not store or dry well.

3. Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

Where to Find It
Loves damp places — riverbanks, ditches, wet meadows. Tall with creamy, frothy flowers and a sweet almond scent.

What to Pick
The flowers — harvest before they begin to brown.

How to Use It

• Infuse in syrup or vinegar
• Flavour mead, custard, or panna cotta
• Use in herbal tea blends

Health Benefits
A natural source of salicylates (aspirin-like compounds), used traditionally to soothe headaches and inflammation.

Storage
Dry flowers on racks and store them in airtight jars.

4. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Where to Find It
Grassy meadows, verges, and dry, open land. Recognisable by its feathery leaves and flat-topped white or pink flower clusters.

What to Pick
Leaves and flowers — ideally in bloom but not browned.

How to Use It

• Soft herb for sauces, purées, or sautéed into dishes
• Use leaves for tea or infused oil
• Excellent dried for winter use

Health Benefits
Used traditionally to stop bleeding and reduce inflammation. Also good for digestion.

Storage
Dry both leaves and flowers for tea or tincture use.

5. Wild Strawberries (Fragaria vesca)

Where to Find It
Edges of woodland paths, grasslands, and hedgerows. Look low to the ground for trailing plants with small trifoliate leaves and tiny red berries.

What to Pick
The tiny, fragrant berries — fully red and ripe.

How to Use It

• Eat fresh as they are — full of flavour
• Use in desserts, jams, or wild strawberry & thyme ice cream
• Add to salads for a sweet-tart hit

Health Benefits
Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. A natural summer treat.

Storage
Very perishable — eat or preserve quickly.

6. Gorse Flowers (Ulex europaeus)

Where to Find It
Heathlands, moorlands, and sandy soils — gorse is tough, spiny, and abundant.

What to Pick
Only the bright yellow flowers — beware the sharp spines.

How to Use It

• Infuse in syrup or wine
• Add to spirits or lemonade for a coconut twist
• Make gorse flower cordial or mead

Health Benefits
Lightly fragrant and soothing. Traditionally used for uplifting mood.

Storage
Best used fresh, but can be dried gently.

7. Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Where to Find It
Almost anywhere! Fields, gardens, hedgerows. Look for fresh growth in partially shaded areas.

What to Pick
Young top leaves — preferably from plants less than knee height.

How to Use It

• Soups, pestos, or spanakopita-style pies
• Brew into tea or nettle beer
• Use in place of spinach or kale

Health Benefits
Rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin C. Detoxifying and supportive for skin and joints.

Storage
Blanch and freeze or dry for tea

8. Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale)

Where to Find It
Grassy lawns, verges, field edges — one of the UK’s most recognisable plants.

What to Pick
Leaves (young and tender), yellow petals, and roots (for roasting).

How to Use It

• Petals for syrup, jelly, or wine
• Leaves in salads or sautéed
• Roots dried and roasted for coffee substitute

Health Benefits
Diuretic, detoxifying, and supportive for liver and digestion.

Storage
Leaves perish quickly; roots and petals can be dried or frozen.

9. Elderberries & Elderflowers (Sambucus nigra)

Where to Find It
Common along hedgerows, woodlands, and park edges. Look for trees with compound leaves and large flat-topped clusters.

What to Pick
In July, you may still find elderflowers in cooler areas, or the first elderberries ripening
in the south.

How to Use It

• Flowers for cordials, pannacotta, or wine
• Berries (cooked only!) for jams, chutneys, and elderberry wine
• Both make excellent herbal remedies

Health Benefits
Both flowers and berries are immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and rich in antioxidants. Elder played a key role in the development of aspirin due to its salicylic acid content.

Storage
Dry elderflowers; freeze or cook berries immediately after picking.

10. Wild Plums / Cherry Plums (Prunus spp.)

Where to Find It
Hedgerows, old orchards, or scrubby woodland. Look for small trees with round red or yellow fruits around 2–3 cm wide.

What to Pick
Ripe fruits that come away easily and are richly coloured.

How to Use It

• Eat fresh
• Use in jams, chutneys, or baked desserts
• Make wild plum gin or wine

Health Benefits
Great source of vitamin A, potassium, and beta carotene. Gently laxative if eaten in quantity.

Storage
Refrigerate or freeze after pitting. Or preserve in syrup or jam

July is a turning point in the foraging calendar — the blooms of early summer start to give way to the first flush of fruits and seeds. It’s a time of richness, and a chance to taste what the season has ripened with care.

As always, forage mindfully: take only what you need, leave plenty for wildlife, and be sure of your plant ID before consuming anything. With a basket in one hand and time to wander, July offers a little magic in every hedgerow.

Happy foraging!