Fancy shopping nature’s bounty instead of your local supermarket?

Botanist and herbalist Jo Goodyear of Blackrock Herbal Clinic will be leading a merry band of would-be foragers into the forest in East Cork for an informative walk this weekend.

As well as a lovely afternoon of fresh air and exercise, Jo will give the group the basics on what to look out for when it comes to foraging for wild food.

The Irish countryside is teeming with delicious, nutritious ingredients – the trick is knowing which fruits, leaves and flowers to pick.

With the right know-how, you can use your finds in everything from home remedies to cooking and even cocktail making.

The walk with Jo Goodyear will be followed by a Q&A session in Rostellan Chocolate Coffee Shop – the perfect chance to ask questions and jot down any extra notes before you plan your next foraging excursion.

Tickets for the walk on April 28th are €10 per person (kids go free – booking here).

Rostellan Wood is hidden deep in the East Cork coastline overlooking Cork Harbour and Rostellan Lake, which is famed for its bird life and attracts large numbers of bird watchers all year round.

Go for a ramble afterwards and check out the 18th century folly tower (partly in ruin) at the western point of the woods near the seashore, and an underground ice-house, which was used for keeping meat and fish fresh hundreds of years ago.

Getting there: Rostellan is located 10km from Midleton on R630 adjacent to Rostellan Village.