Fancy foraging for food along Dorset's coastline? (From Dorset Echo)

Fancy foraging for food along Dorset's coastline?

11:30am Tuesday 16th June 2009

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SEAWEED, plants and sea creatures may not feature in the usual beach picnic but an expert forager is encouraging people to give it a go.

John Wright believes it is a shame not to enjoy the free and nutritious offerings available on Dorset’s shores.

The author of Edible Seashore has brought his hobby to the nation in the latest series of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s hit Channel 4 television programme River Cottage.

John, 57, of Maiden Newton, near Dorchester said: “The instincts for foraging and hunting are deep within us all and we have lost much in failing to fulfil these needs.

“Everyone would enjoy wandering and paddling by the sea, looking for their supper, as this pleasure is written in our genes.”

Weymouth and Portland are hotspots for foragers and a day at Bowleaze Cove soon uncovers several overlooked edible treats.

First up is Rock Samphire, a green leafy carrot family member, which tastes salty and carrot-like and can be eaten freshly picked.

Around the corner is ‘the best thing of all’ Sea Beet, which resembles spinach and should be steamed for five minutes and eaten with butter and black pepper.

John said: “The good thing about it is it’s so abundant and you don’t need to worry about conservation as long as you pick it carefully.”

We also find Crow Garlic, which is a cross between garlic and an onion, and Alexanders aromatic seaside root vegetable.

John is trained cabinetmaker but became hooked on fungi foraging 30 years ago and still lectures on the topic. He was ‘promoted’ to all-types of foraging by Hugh and is currently working on his next book Edible Hedgerow.

John said: “People think it’s rapacious to take from nature but it makes you appreciate it so much more.

“The supermarket distances us and food so foraging is a good thing, as long as it’s done with care.

“I go out for myself all the time. It’s not a way of life and it’s not a living, it’s just something I enjoy.”

John said ‘rock pooling with a purpose’ made for a great day out with children and he often took his daughters Lily, 11, and Florence, 13.

He said: “It’s keeping old traditions alive and introducing new traditions.

“I mean, why don’t we collect seaweed? It’s a shame that so few people do when there must be millions of tons of edible seaweed around.

“It’s extremely nutritious and tasty if you cook it the right way.”

Top creature-finds include shellfish, molluscs, mussels, cockles and clams.

John added: “The best thing to find is lobsters frankly, it takes a bit of beating to top that.

“I have caught lobsters from the shore in Dorset using a cheap collapsible pot at low tide. Tide is very important as is local knowledge and a lot of people, including Port-land fishermen, helped me with my book. Chesil Beach is one of the most magnificent things in the country.

“There’s a lot of stuff you can eat on there, although you have to be very careful when foraging as most of it is a nature reserve.”

John Wright will be appearing in three out of four episodes of the latest series of River Cottage.

John is expected to appear in the next episode tomorrow, Wednesday June 17.

His book Edible Seashore, River Cottage handbook No.5, is available on Amazon priced at £8.99.

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