The act of identifying and collecting one’s own foods, inks, and medicines from the wild has long been a part of human history, one known as foraging. Our ancestors have relied upon local flora and fungi, to feed themselves or turned to the hedgerow and seashore for medicine, creating a rich tapestry of folklore and environmental understanding. 

Then, as we ushered industry and technological progress into communities, traditions activities and heritage crafts, such as foraging, fell out of habit. When there is an abundance of easily accessible and affordable food offered by supermarkets and shops, communities have not needed to turn to their local landscape, swapping oral traditions for shopping lists. While there are a number of benefits to this progress, it is worth acknowledging that removing ourselves from nature and weakening both the relationship and understanding that communities form with their local ecology has significant costs, especially to mental health.

This is why, for our seasonal outing, the Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy team ventured into the vast and beautiful environment of Bristol’s Leigh Woods with foraging guide Leon Frey.

As we strolled around the woods, we were encouraged to utilise each of our senses. Mushrooms were smelled, flowers were felt, and leaves were tasted. Each simple act of interaction helped to open our eyes to both the amazing diversity of ecology in the landscape and the remarkable flavours that could be found. Leon demonstrated how to approach the safe identification of wild ingredients, discussing their value to historic communities and the stories behind their etymology. 

It gave us a deeper appreciation of a landscape that many of the group had explored previously. We began to see the ubiquity of delicious flavours, from the aromatic wild garlic to the brilliant common hogweed, as well as open ourselves up to the world beneath our feet, spotting candlesnuff fungi and witch’s eggs that might have been otherwise overlooked. 

We found this a deeply rewarding experience for a number of reasons and not solely that our dinner plates were now open to the presence of stinging nettles and alexander seeds! Being immersed in nature and with such a conscientiousness of our impact was humbling. The impact of each footstep was clear, as well as the plucking of every petal. We were also distanced from the stressors of the city centre, listening, instead, to the sound of birds and the snapping of twigs. As counsellors, we know that nature is restorative but to take the time to experience and embrace what is known as ecotherapy reminded us as to why having a relationship with nature is important for mental health.

There are also a number of other benefits even outside of spending time among natural landscapes. Stinging nettles, for example, are rich in iron and calcium, being even more nutritious than spinach. And, they’re free, which means saving small amounts on our food bills too, reducing the stress associated with food insecurity. 

This, of course, isn’t to say that the act of foraging is a panacea for mental ill-health. However, it has been shown that spending time in nature, walking, and improving nutrition each has a significant and positive effect on mental health, which places foraging at the top of the list for activities that benefit personal well-being.

Before you begin harvesting your dinners from the wild, it is important to remember a few fundamentals, the most important of which is to only eat what you can confidently identify. There are a number of harmful plants and mushrooms, so it is important that you have patience and discipline when collecting ingredients. Additionally, foragers should collect ingredients sustainably. Not only is it important to leave flora and fungi for other foragers but also for animals who both rely on them and help to propagate their growth.

We had a wonderful time learning about the landscape with Leon and recommend his foraging walks to others. Our team left not only feeling content from our day in the woodland but also fulfilled at having our perspective of what grows and thrives around us expanded.

Here’s what Mind has to say about the ‘Benefits of Nature on Mental Health’: 

Spending time in green spaces or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical well-being. For example, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects. It can:

• improve your mood
• reduce feelings of stress or anger
• help you take time out and feel more relaxed
• improve your physical health
• improve your confidence and self-esteem
• help you be more active
• help you meet and get to know new people
• connect you to your local community
• reduce loneliness
• help you feel more connected to nature
• provide peer support.

If you’d like to talk to our team about your own mental health or are looking for counselling services in Bristol, our team can be reached for an initial consultation by emailing hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk or, alternatively, by calling 07751 271709.