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With plant foraging continuing to be a fascinating educational pastime for those that enjoy being outdoors, Atholl Estates is pleased to be offering two autumn foraging experiences with its resident foraging expert, Tamara Colchester.

Taking place on the 19th and 20th of September, 10:30am to 1:30pm, and priced at £45 per person (with children free), the courses are an invitation to learn about twenty edible and medicinal plants, trees, and fungi found in the grounds of Blair Castle, and its extensive gardens and gardens.

Each course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk in which participants, in small groups, will learn lifelong identification techniques of many edible species, with Tamara on hand to suggest a number of inspiring recipe ideas with foraged ingredients.

The walks, which can also be used as mindful experiences, enjoying the peaceful environment, will finish up with wild tea and home-made cake & biscuits in the estate’s beautiful Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.

“Autumn is a very special time for foraging, and these walks will give us time to celebrate the best of this season,” said Tamara. “Join us as we discover many different varieties of mushroom, nutritious nuts, seeds and succulent berries, all of which are fantastic ingredients for cooking.”

Over the past decade, Tamara has studied wild plants, exploring how people can live off the land in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the UK. She has gained incredible knowledge of plants, their food and medicinal benefits, and how our dietary needs change with the seasons.

Explaining that during the walk, she will lead her groups through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden, Tamara said: “We will take time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.”

“Foraging at Atholl Estates affords a unique opportunity to experience a range of diverse habitats in an extraordinary setting,” she continued. “The old-growth trees, woodland plants, meadow flowers and cultivated gardens means that participants can learn a huge amount in a short space of time. These walks are not so much about distance, but depth. It’s a moment to slow down and truly experience the vitality of the Scottish Highlands.’

“This is the fifth year that Tamara has been hosting these informative forging walks with us,” said Jess Reid, Marketing Manager for Atholl Estates. “They have a steady following, as, all in all, it’s a great day out in the fresh air and picturesque surroundings of our estate. You are learning something new that can lead to knowing what edible plants to introduce to the domestic garden. There is so much potential in this topic.”

“Children are welcome on the walks, with no charge to bring them along,” added Jess. “The walks are at a fairly slow pace, so whilst dogs are also welcome, they might get a bit bored. We will leave it to the discretion of participants.”

Further details at: https://atholl-estates.co.uk/events/autumn-foraging-2/

Tickets for the foraging experience cost £45 per person.

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