NATURE lovers and food lovers can take a walk on the wild side by signing up for a course on foraging at a country house hotel in Worcestershire.

Herefordshire foraging expert Liz Knight is hosting two Seasonal Foraging Workshops at Eckington Manor in the Vale of Evesham on Saturday May 27 and Saturday September 9.

Liz runs Forage Fine Foods and will be giving people the chance to learn about the best seasonal wild foods and help them prepare and transform foraged ingredients into preserves, drinks and accompaniments for a three-course lunch.

Owner and founder of Eckington Manor Judy Gardner said: “We are delighted to welcome Liz to Eckington Manor to host this unique event with us. This is a great chance for visitors to discover the sights, smells and tastes of one of the finest and bountiful areas of countryside in the UK.

“The Vale of Evesham is world renowned for its productivity and, with Liz’s expertise, we hope to help visitors find out a little more about foraged food and introduce them to our lovely grounds at the same time.

“There is a huge interest in wild food at present. However, not all berries, roots and leaves are safe to eat which is why courses such as these are so important.”

The course begins with a guided forage by Liz to discover edible treasures in the stunning countryside surrounding Eckington Manor. Students will learn how to cook with their pickings before tasting the fruits of their labours in a three-course lunch.

After creating personalised gin and syrup to take home, participants will be treated to a slice of Liz’s homemade wild cake and tea to finish the day. For more information about the courses and booking contact the hotel on 01386 751600.

Liz has six years’ experience leading forages and educational outdoor workshops and started her one-woman business in 2011.

She said: “said “I’m excited to be working with Eckington Manor. It’s a wonderful location with a host of edible delights waiting to be discovered. Depending on the season, I’ll teach skills such as how to safely tap trees for sap, gather wild herbs or pick edible florals and turn it all into delectable meal accompaniments.

“My workshops are a great celebration of wild food and cooking while enjoying the great outdoors. You’re sure to leave with plenty of new friends and ideas that are easy to recreate at home and I guarantee you’ll never look at a patch of weeds in the same way ever again.”