uk foraging for weeds plants pesticide free??

jessepinkman

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Apr 4, 2021
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glasgow, scotland
Just wondering about natural foraging in woods,local areas, parks etc
How to be sure?

Ive researched and most places are sprayed with insecticides, even woods, done ariely.

So how do know for sure we are picking things that havent been sprayed? Tips? Experience?
 

ArmadilloPup

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Not UK specific, but a lot of folks here have private land or know private land where they can pick. None of it is untouched, but rural areas away from wetlands are hit much more lightly. I'm currently living in an area that's heavy-handed with pesticides (along with water pollution), so I rely a lot on markets and online. Dandelion from the market is our staple green.

It's a long shot, but you could try social media. Mushroom foragers should be able to help you.
 

MEEJogja

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I don't think woodlands in the UK are routinely subject to aerial spraying. They sometimes are in response to a specific threat, e.g. to attempt to reduce the spread of an invasive European beetle. I lived at the edge of 2 large woodlands in the Midlands and we would have noticed aerial spraying had it ever happened. Look for sensitive indicator species, moss and fungus are generally good.
 

Blackdog1714

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Stay away from private lands open for tours-like manor houses, and golf courses. Both are attempting to provide visually pleasant scenes so weeds are unacceptable. Look for overgrown-any structure covered to where you almost can't see it lets you know they don't mind weeds. I always walk with a ziplock bag for nice finds
 

jessepinkman

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Apr 4, 2021
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Location (City and/or State)
glasgow, scotland
Not UK specific, but a lot of folks here have private land or know private land where they can pick. None of it is untouched, but rural areas away from wetlands are hit much more lightly. I'm currently living in an area that's heavy-handed with pesticides (along with water pollution), so I rely a lot on markets and online. Dandelion from the market is our staple green.

It's a long shot, but you could try social media. Mushroom foragers should be able to help you.
Much appreciated, thankyou
 

jessepinkman

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glasgow, scotland
I don't think woodlands in the UK are routinely subject to aerial spraying. They sometimes are in response to a specific threat, e.g. to attempt to reduce the spread of an invasive European beetle. I lived at the edge of 2 large woodlands in the Midlands and we would have noticed aerial spraying had it ever happened. Look for sensitive indicator species, moss and fungus are generally good.
Thankyou very much
 

jessepinkman

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Location (City and/or State)
glasgow, scotland
Stay away from private lands open for tours-like manor houses, and golf courses. Both are attempting to provide visually pleasant scenes so weeds are unacceptable. Look for overgrown-any structure covered to where you almost can't see it lets you know they don't mind weeds. I always walk with a ziplock bag for nice finds
Thanks alot for that ?
 

JoesMum

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Kent, South East England
Woodland isn’t routinely sprayed.

The places to avoid here in the UK are
  1. roadside verges... councils have run out of money to spray, but road salt from the winter months and pollution from passing vehicles is a problem
  2. Parks, playing fields and gardens... The more manicured then the more likely they’re using pesticides and/or herbicides
  3. Farmland... pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers
The places to look include your neighbours’ gardens. My next door neighbour uses no chemicals and has a fine dandelion crop that he is more than happy for me to harvest. :D

And of course your own patch of green can be made tortoise friendly too... those weeds will also be good for other wildlife. The bees and the hedgehogs will thank you ?

You can buy tortoise friendly seed from the Shelled Warriors shop
 

jessepinkman

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Joined
Apr 4, 2021
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Location (City and/or State)
glasgow, scotland
Woodland isn’t routinely sprayed.

The places to avoid here in the UK are
  1. roadside verges... councils have run out of money to spray, but road salt from the winter months and pollution from passing vehicles is a problem
  2. Parks, playing fields and gardens... The more manicured then the more likely they’re using pesticides and/or herbicides
  3. Farmland... pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers
The places to look include your neighbours’ gardens. My next door neighbour uses no chemicals and has a fine dandelion crop that he is more than happy for me to harvest. :D

And of course your own patch of green can be made tortoise friendly too... those weeds will also be good for other wildlife. The bees and the hedgehogs will thank you ?

You can buy tortoise friendly seed from the Shelled Warriors shop
Thankyou,

Already been growing my own weeds from shelled warriors, think im on my 4th packet, have various containers growing weeds and wheatgrass ?

But thanks for your advice, from everything thats been said i think the local woodland may be ok to forage, just wanted to double check x
 

Yossarian

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Nov 21, 2015
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Location (City and/or State)
Wales
Woodland isn’t routinely sprayed.

The places to avoid here in the UK are
  1. roadside verges... councils have run out of money to spray, but road salt from the winter months and pollution from passing vehicles is a problem
  2. Parks, playing fields and gardens... The more manicured then the more likely they’re using pesticides and/or herbicides
  3. Farmland... pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers
The places to look include your neighbours’ gardens. My next door neighbour uses no chemicals and has a fine dandelion crop that he is more than happy for me to harvest. :D

And of course your own patch of green can be made tortoise friendly too... those weeds will also be good for other wildlife. The bees and the hedgehogs will thank you ?

You can buy tortoise friendly seed from the Shelled Warriors shop

all excellent advice.
 

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