Foraging for wild food 'can be empowering'

Gemma Gee believes foraging is good for connecting with nature

A wild food forager is encouraging people to get out in nature after completing her 100th guided walk.

Gemma Gee, 35, has a lifelong love of blackberry picking and began foraging during Covid lockdowns.

She now takes groups of people around Northumberland's woods showing them what flowers and fruit to gather and safely eat.

Mrs Gee said the walks give foragers new "perspective" on the nature around them.

She said: "The thing I hear most is when people have been somewhere before and after the walk they see things completely differently.

"We discuss the plant names and what is safe to eat.

"We challenge the idea that you need to live deep in the countryside to enjoy foraging and to encourage people to connect with nature and to explore their local green spaces.

"It can often be difficult to find the time, energy or even the courage to get out and explore the hedgerows and foraging can be an empowering way of increasing your knowledge of the natural world whilst being able to enjoy delicious wild food."

She said that during walks people learn about fruits, mushrooms and flowers and how to gather, prepare and store them to enjoy all year round.

Gemma became a partner of Visit Northumberland in 2025

She said nettle cake was one of the best beginner recipes.

"Nettles are great because everyone knows what they are, they are the first plant that most people can identify - you can find them everywhere."

Mrs Gee said a lot of people have forgotten how good being in nature is for their mental health.

"The mental health benefit of being in nature is not something I have to show people, it is something I am encouraging to happen," she said.