Free, Healthy Food for the Picking
Hedgerows are an incredibly under valued resource that are in danger of being lost from our countryside if we don’t start to appreciate their usefulness as well as their importance for biodiversity and landscape character.
In the past hedges were used as larders of healthy seasonal food – apples, berries and nuts were collected as a healthy tasty supplement to the diet.
The Hedgerow Harvest project seeks to reconnect people to this heritage of free local healthy food.
It builds on existing work being carried out as part of the Hedge Tree Campaign and will encourage local people to access food for free on their doorstep by supporting a network of hedgerow foragers across the region who can inspire their neighbours and undertake projects in their communities.
The project will:
- promote the use of hedgerow produce by providing advice and information on a hedgerow harvest website
- produce a collection of recipes collected from Tree Wardens and Tree Council members to inspire more people to collect hedgerow produce
- develop 10 demonstration hedge projects that can be accessed by interested local community and school groups
- provide advice about what to grow and how to plant and maintain a productive hedge
- produce a hedgerow harvest teachers pack with lesson plans that meet the need of key stage 3
To find out more go to www.hedgerowharvest.org.uk
