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If your New Year's resolution for 2008 was to watch your carbon footprint, reduce food air miles and to shop more locally, then how about considering foraging in the countryside.

Collecting food for free is the sexy way to go now! While I am not encouraging you to wreak havoc in the great outdoors by thrashing around wholesale on farmers' land, and through woodlands, or taking pot-shots at pheasants or bunnies, there is a whole new food-world out there that can supplement your diet.

Our ancestors had it all worked out, no choice for them really, with none of our modern supermarket conveniences to rely on, their lives had to follow the seasons. After the shortage of fresh foods in winter they would look forward to the nourishing green shoots that would give a natural boost to their immune systems in the spring. They also didn't have the internet to check out recipes...but you do, so be brave and experiment.

Everyone shudders at the very thought of eating nettles, but why don't you get your own back on the spiteful little blighters and add a few fresh young leaves to a soup, or cook some up like spinach and add butter. They are incredibly nourishing, full of iron and other nutrients.

The Alexanders plant, which was brought over by the Romans, grows along Pembrokeshire's coastal path. Its dark glossy leaves that appear early in spring can also go into soups or salads, and the stalks can be blanched and eaten with butter.

Wild garlic, also plentiful here, fills damp woodlands with its strong smell at this time of year. Use the leaves, flowers and bulbs in stews, soups and salads.

So now arm yourself with a good book to help you identify plants and head off down the quiet Pembrokeshire lanes and footpaths.

Julia Horton-Powdrill

3:27pm Monday 25th February 2008

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