Wild Foods - Part I - Trees

Last weekend's wild food walk was an amazing experience. I have now been through the photos and done a little extra research. We found quite a bit on a short walk around Sheffield. Here are details of the trees...

Cherry

The cherry tree is found on many a street corner around these parts. At this time of year the blossom is a good indicator of what trees to keep your eye on. Too much blossom and it is probably an ornamental variety. A more modest blossom volume may be a fruiter. I have spied several trees near me which I will be trying to harvest before the birds. In town though, at lower altitudes, this tree had finished with the blossom and already started to make fruit.

Beech

Beech nuts are something to look forward to in the future. Beech leaves can be eaten too. Now they are too tough. You need to pick them when they are younger and a lighter colour. Maybe next year I need to try Beech Leaf Gin.

Wild Service

The wild service tree was once quite common, but today you will be very lucky to spot one indeed. They have hawthorn-like leaves which turn yellow-orange through to brown or red. This specimen has been planted in a local community garden. The berries are edible.

Whitebeam

Whitebeam leaves are much lighter on their underside. This tree produces berries, all varieties of which are edible.

Silver Birch

Silver Birch Trunk

The young leaves of the Silver Birch are edible. We tried a few and they were quite nice. The most interesting source of nutrients though is the sap. The time has been and gone to tap the tree, but is sometime I wish to try next year.

Lyme

The Lyme tree has always been "that tree with the big leaves". I never knew the leaves where really tasty. A great wild replacement for salad leaves.

Hawthorn

Here is the Hawthorn. Usually seen with white blossom, here is the red variety. Just pick and nibble the blossom for a tasty snack. Everything can be eaten or processed. With a good sized tree at the bottom of our garden I can't wait to make some jam.

Elder

Elderflower juice is just lovely. Elderberry too. What a great plant. Hopefully more information soon as I go foraging for this over the next few weeks.

Sycamore (Great Maple)

Near the end of our walk we came across this Sycamore tree, aka the Great Maple. The buds where sprouting and are covered in sticky sap. We decided to try them. It was delicious. They were also covered in stuck-on greenfly too, so became a perfect sweetened protein snack. I have since found a recipe for Maple Schnapps. Maybe I should head back to that tree and crop some?