Edible Invasive Species

Some ideas on how to responsibly connect with wild plants during the Corona Virus lockdown, including helpful weeds you can find in gardens or any green space.

This is the most striking and delicious of all our UK berries in my opinion – once you get over their nose-scrunching acidity! They are exceptionally good for you, being rammed with antioxidants and vitamin C. They are mostly found coastally, but are starting to be introduced – or introducing themselves – to more inland locations…

This common “weed” is actually a delight to eat. It has a mild, fresh, “grassy” flavour with no bitterness, making it an excellent bulker in wild salads – where mild flavours are needed to balance more pungent flavours. It cooks down well – like spinach, but try to harvest only the lush, leafy tops or it can tend towards stringyness…

The pungency of garlic mustard isn’t to all tastes. It took me a couple of seasons of uncertain nibbling to come round to its charms. Now i’m hooked and no spring walk seems complete without its rich and vibrants flavour.

Japanese knotweed is a tasty, healthy food that can be harvested in large amounts for use as a vegetable and in drinks, desserts and savoury dishes. There are however some serious things to consider if you intend to harvest it…