From Supermarkets to Shorelines: Chris Holden on Eating Wild

In this episode of Food For Thought Radio, I’m joined by forager and rewilding advocate Chris Holden of Rewilding Us for a candid conversation about “rewilding humans” through food. We unpack how modern agriculture, ultra‑processed diets and centralised supply chains have distanced us from nature, and why reconnecting with wild foods—plants, fungi, seaweeds, shellfish and wild game—can restore ecosystems, improve health and build genuine food resilience. Chris explains his community‑centred vision for wild food hubs, touches on the legal basics of foraging in England, and shares practical, seasonal ways families can begin to add wild ingredients to everyday meals. We also explore the role of apex predators in balancing herbivore populations, the impact of invasive species and plant diseases, and how mindful foraging can actually help habitats recover. Finally, Chris outlines the hands‑on courses he runs—from coastal and mushroom days to wild‑game butchery and his new year‑long Primal Pathways programme (now for men and women)—designed to rebuild lost skills, confidence and community around nature’s pantry.'Rewilding Us' (Chris Holden): https://rewildingus.co.ukSites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Natural England guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest'Ash dieback' overview (Woodland Trust): https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/tree-pests-and-diseases/diseases/ash-dieback/'Dutch elm disease' profile (Royal Horticultural Society): https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/dutch-elm-disease'Japanese knotweed' overview (UK Government): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/japanese-knotweed-overview'Himalayan balsam' species page (The Wildlife Trusts): https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/himalayan-balsam'Hemlock water dropwort' guidance (Royal Horticultural Society): https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/hemlock-water-dropwort