Ep 93 - Foraging with Lea and James from Woodland Classroom

In this rich and grounded episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma sit down with James and Lea from The Woodland Classroom to explore the art and practice of foraging. From beginner tips and seasonal wisdom to confidence-building and risk management, this episode goes deep into how adults and children alike can build meaningful relationships with wild plants. James and Lea share reflections on their own nature-connected upbringings, lockdown shifts in family learning, and how the simple act of naming a plant can foster identity, autonomy, and awe. They tackle tricky topics such as identification apps, fungi fears, and institutional risk aversion with humour and care. Whether you’re new to foraging or a seasoned wild food lover, this episode will re-root you in the joy of noticing, tasting, and sharing the edible landscape.🎙 Featuring a special Forest School Podcast listener discount for their Complete Tree ID Course!⏱ Chapter Timings:00:00 – Discombobulated beginnings and the ‘one-way road to freedom’03:21 – Planning scaffolded sessions after lockdown chaos05:00 – Oak apples, gall ink, and seasonal crafting07:33 – Intro to foraging with The Woodland Classroom08:45 – Why foraging and trees became their core focus10:26 – Teaching foraging online: film, media, and accessibility14:19 – The confidence barrier and perceived risk in schools17:18 – Starting simple: blackberries, rosehips, garlic, and joy20:20 – Nature connection in childhood and rediscovering it later23:33 – Lockdown learning: parents reclaiming the forager role27:02 – Observing patterns, mast years, and plant timings30:05 – Interconnected species and multi-way plant relationships🌲 Keywords: wild food education, Forest School foraging, plant ID for children, seasonal wild greens, nature connection, foraging apps, fungi risks, sustainable foraging, family learning, nature-based CPD, wild garlic, mast years, oak apples, tree ID, accessible outdoor learning🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #ForagingWithKids #NatureConnection #WildEdibles #SustainableForaging #BushcraftLife #TreeID #ForestSchoolPodcast #NatureBasedEducation #FungiSafety #OutdoorCPD #WoodlandWisdom #ForagingTips #SlowLearning🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen to more and access resources at ⁠www.theforestschoolpodcast.com⁠Support the show and join our community at ⁠www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast⁠For questions, feedback, or collaboration: ⁠[email protected]