Welcome to Wild Picks
Nature has inspired me in more ways than one, researching and discovering benefits of plants, and what they can provide.
Foraged in Summer
Elderflower, Sambucus nigra.
In Late spring to early summer you can find Elder flowering. This shrub/tree can be found all around the countryside, in towns and parks. It has become wide spread making it a really common plant to find. Tiny blossoms of white, five petaled flowers are grouped together in a bunch. This is highly scented and are filled with yellow pollen which is great for pollinating insects.
Wild Cherry, Prunus avium.
This tree fruits in early summer after flowering in spring. It has green, toothed, oval leaves with pointed tips. The red fruits are sweet and favoured by birds. One other species, Prunus cerasus grows alongside the sweet variety, these ones however are sour to taste and I have found are generally smaller in size.
Nettles, Urtica dioica.
Stinging nettles are vast in their spread cropping up along roadsides, waste grounds, hedgerows, urban and sub-urban areas. Nettles are very beneficial to our bodies as they can help reduce allergies, lower blood pressure, relieve pain, kill germs and so much more. This is most known by herbalists as it is used in herbal medicine but can also be incorporated into food.
Wild Plum, Prunus domestica.
Plum is a very common fruiting tree, the flowers are oval and the fruits generally hang in groups of three along the branches. These begin to ripen early to mid-summer and a great way of testing for ripeness is through touch. If the fruit is soft then it is good to eat.
There are many other varieties of plum that you can find growing around such as; damson and greengage, both of these are sweet and full of flavour.
Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale.
Dandelions grow anywhere and everywhere as their seeds can spread far with the ability to travel in the wind for over 200 metres. The leaves of this plant tend to be serrated like a blade with a single stem flower cropping up from the centre. They are known for being a prolific weed growing throughout the UK. But all parts of this plant have edible and medicinal uses, the root can be collected in late autumn, roasted, and made into coffee. Whereas the leaves and flowers can add a great addition to a salad.
Dog Rose, Rosa canina.
This is a deciduous shrub generally growing in hedgerows. The stems are thorny and the leaves are pinnate shaped like feathers. The flowers range from white to pink and can even be bright red with yellow stamens.
The flowers and leaves can be dried and used as a herbal tea as this has medicinal properties.
Site Content
Plants growing in the wild and in gardens.
Find out some useful information with plants
I have encountered and grow myself like the common weed 'Dandelion'
Wild Picks Summer 2026
Summer has begun with heavy downpours and thunderstorms in parts of the country after having a heatwave in the final week of spring.
This rain has been needed to allow plants and fauna to soak up some much deserved minerals.
This summer is looking promising and I can’t wait to share all my new happenings for this season.
Recipes
Here you will find recipes showcasing plants and fruits that grow all throughout the UK, Have a browse, see something you like, why not give it a try.
Mini Adventures
Mini Adventures
As well as searching through the UK for wild plants I am aiming to travel to a few countries of interest to document their wild landscapes so that i can gain knowledge and to be inspired with new recipes and growing techniques.
Click below to see my first mini adventure.
My Blog
Mini Adventures
My Blog
keep up with updates on my progress in creating a sustainable growing habitat in this new section.