Foraging in April (Part 4 of 4)- UK Wildcrafts Foraging Calendar Series

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

For the people saying it’s illegal to pick Japanese knotweed- this is completely false. It’s an offence to purposely spread a schedule 9 invasive plant but that’s not the same thing. Just be careful not to help it spread like I said in the video. Please read the gov.uk website, it says nothing about the collecting of it being illegal

[@ymwang973]

Even if the Japanese knotweed has grown quite tall, it's still edible. You should only eat the top section, though. Peel off the skin as it's quite sour when eaten raw. To prepare, blanch it in water and then soak for a while. For serving, crush some garlic and fry it in oil until fragrant, add diced bacon and cook it thoroughly, and then add the Japanese knotweed cut into segments. Of course, you can also make it without bacon. This is a Chinese cooking method that you might want to try.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

This sounds great, will give it a go thanks 😁

[@hevchip741]

This is my favourite wild food channel, you explain so well and your photography is clear, wonderful, no unnecessary talking, just informatikn, thank you.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Appreciate it thanks 😁

[@VJLasorsa]

Thank you. Please keep the calendar going forward. It’s all very interesting and informative

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Thanks will do 😁

[@jillatherton4660]

I knew it as wild rhubarb, providing a drink when playing in wild places.

[@heatherthunderhawk485]

💚 I love wood sorrel

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Me too 😁

[@theunclejezusshow8260]

I'm getting lots of Knotweed and Nettles now. I'm actually eating Knotweed with eggs and hummus Right Now🌠👍

[@andrewvaccari1904]

Knot weed is truly a gift for us and the insects in late summer. The flowers get covered in hover flies and bees generally. So does balsam.

[@valeriewatson5260]

Very interesting Thank you for taking the time to explain in detail the differences between plants, I like to forage and make my own remedies so this is great! Didn’t know about the young birch twigs as pain relief …

[@graemedevine9651]

Always a pleasure, thanks Lewis.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

You’re welcome 😁

[@Suzitao]

Thank you Lewis. I have learned a lot from you. I didn't know to eat Himalayan balsam as a shoot/sprout..what a great idea..my local woods is chokker with this invasive. Also new to me is how to use Japanese knotweed (though I had heard it is edible). Yesterday, I foraged a full carrier bag of greens..wild garlic, bistort and nettles. It makes me so happy and I will be foraging for the rest of my life. (I made dock pudding fritters..something local to Calderdale. Infact, on 21st of April it is the dock pudding world championship in Mytholmroyd!) 😊

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yes harvest those Himalayan balsam shoots 😁. I’ve heard of dock pudding but not tried it. I’ll have to give it a go

[@GladiolaGirl]

Thanks for another great video. I've learned a lot from watching your foraging videos. You are a great teacher. Always looking forward to watch your video. Have a great weekend.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Thanks much appreciated 😁

[@EmmaO1932]

Love your videos! So glad youre doing more vids in this series. Hope to see more

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Thanks. I’ve got a few more for the series planned this year 😁

[@EmmaO1932]

@@UKWILDCRAFTS ooo yay!

[@frogsmadeofrocks]

I'm from Poland and wild flora here is quite similar to UK. We have japanese knotweed as an invasive plant too and rhubarb pie is something my grandma always makes when I visit her. Can't wait to make it myself but with a little twist!

[@dee5184]

Love your videos I’m learning so much from you. 🙏

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Thanks 😁

[@honorata1935]

Thank you.

[@melissalambert7615]

I enjoy your videos and often stop it to look up a plant. The Himalayan Balsam is ornamental jewelweed. I've heard jewelweed is good to treat poison oak. Wonder if the H. Balsam is also. I have a nice patch of Wood Sorrel. I'll put a bit in a salad once in a while but mostly just like the plant. Early bloomer and takes a good bit of shade. Hello from rainy Oregon.

[@andrewcarey2674]

We would drink the water out of the knotweed

[@bertieschitz-peas429]

Interesting video Lewis, i didn't know knotweed was edible. I never see bamboo shoots in my local area even tho i've checked thickets of the stuff, when are they sprouting now or anytime in the summer?

[@theunclejezusshow8260]

I eat Knotweed and many other wildedibles, mushrooms included. Humans are welcome to visit

[@Nathanhiggerz]

Wow: they look just like asparagus 1:37 9:09 wood sorrel Is shamrock right? Can garlic mustard leaves counter the oxalic acid affects?

[@antonycoe1290]

That's a nice little blister on your thumb. Let me guess.... Using a rake?

[@lovedaybebe5881]

Do you have to be careful that they haven’t been sprayed with weed killer ? Or would that be really obvious ?

[@BeekeeperBen]

Will picking it make it spread more?

[@Mrgingerdread1]

I used plant sunflowers and Jerusalem artichokes around it to prevent it spreading,i worked.

[@jt659]

Funny how a plant spreads like mad in one spot but not another. My friend a few miles away has a small patch of Japanese Knotweed in his yard. He doesn't manage it or anything and it's been there for a couple of decades but it's the only patch I've ever found.

[@dane2487]

Someone knowledgable told me this is common and I have observed this. Though Also seen it in large clumbs along river. It is hard to know how common this is when there is a huge business out of eradicating it though I wont fancy it near my house :)

[@jt659]

Once I found out about its very high trans-resveratrol content, I added it to my list of Spring foragables. I'm not buying some "superfood" powder when I can eat weeds for free. @@dane2487

[@albert2395]

I've heard that you can cook japanese knot weed, like you do rhubarb.😊

[@kimberleyfeakes9574]

Lewis - Can you eat it uncooked?

[@ChristineSharples]

This looks like himalayan pink! japonese knotweed is a bush. Correct me if i am wrong. The pink needs distroying it kills all native plants and leaves river banks in danger.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Himalayan pink? Is that another name for Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)? That’s the second plant in the video. The first one was Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)

[@bbs3470]

That river looks like full of raw sewage.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

It’s not. It’s a fairly clear stream

[@cgisme]

Being pedantic. Isn’t that knife illegal being fixed blade? (Personally I think the current knife legislation is ridiculous)

[@nickybrewer3308]

Lock knifes over 3inch is not aloud . Fixed blades are aloud not curved

[@darwindarwin141]

Not if you have a legitimate purpose for having it , like camping or foraging

[@user-vg5rv5xf4u]

Nnotweed is delicious in a pie

[@sbjchef]

knotweed is notifiable and you aren't allowed to move, cut or process it

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

What’s your source?

[@theunclejezusshow8260]

I eat it and will continue

[@adrianbew9641]

You are right and is notifiable to environment agency and local council.

[@theunclejezusshow8260]

@@adrianbew9641 Looking forward to your next video, Hahaha

[@sbjchef]

@@UKWILDCRAFTS the law? It's on the gov.uk site

[@hArtyTruffle]

Another great video full of useful info. Thankyou ✨🫶🏻✨ QUESTION: do all plants with Oxalic Acid in them have “oxalis” in their Latin name? And does cooking them destroy the Oxalic acid or should I avoid them altogether. I only ask because Oxalic acid/acid is something I personally have to avoid. Thanks in advance 🙏

[@Suzitao]

These are reduced by cooking but if you have arthritis they are probably best avoided. I do..and only use a tiny amount..eg of wood sorrel as a garnish. I probably shouldn't use any..but...hope that helps!

[@WeAreAllOneNature]

No, most plants with oxalic acid don't all have 'oxalis' in their name.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

No Oxalis are just the wood sorrels. There are quite a few other plants that contain oxalic acid, especially the Rumex genus which contains the other sorrels and dock. I’m not sure about if cooking destroys it

[@hArtyTruffle]

@@UKWILDCRAFTS thanks for that 👍🏼