Coastal Classics

I think one of the best places to forage is by the coast – if I had to survive entirely off the land, I’d set up camp here. Many coastal plants are evergreen, salt tolerant and varied in flavour, for example the strong carrot-like flavour of rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum), the delicious salty aptly-named saltbush (Atriplex halimus) and sea purslane (Halimione portulacoides), the tart berries of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) and the ferny aniseed fronds of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). You'll find some of the usual suspects around the coast such as three cornered leek, nettles, hogweed and a firm favourite black mustard, but also much more of a repertoire. Don't forget on the shore you also have a plethora of seaweeds to explore and shellfish too, from mussels, limpets, whelks and winkles.

For more information on seaweeds and shellfish, check out more of my foraging guides.