About Edulis

Hello there! I’m Lisa Cutcliffe, foraging-guide-in-chief and all-round mushroom-nut here at Edulis. I’m based in Leeds, Yorkshire. I run courses primarily in the north of England and I also travel and forage for wild food all over the UK with my campervan & adventure cats, my regular favourites including Scotland, the Lake District, Northumbria, North Wales, Anglesey, South Wales, the Peak District, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Hampshire, the New Forest, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. I also love travelling to other countries to teach or geek out, if I’m invited! I’m planning on going to Scandinavia this year which will be epic, so if you want a visitor do let me know!

Scheduled open courses

I lead guided foraging walks and immersive wild food courses in the wider Yorkshire area, Cumbria and further afield, as well as in Leeds itself, introducing edible species as we come across them, be that urban, woodland, grassland, hedgerow, lakeside, saltmarsh or seashore. I can find something wild to eat all year round, but many edibles are dormant over the winter. Course dates are available so book a place on one of my foraging courses today!

Collaborations

Some of the best events I’ve ever taken part in were collaborations! I love working with others, bringing different stills and interests together to make something really special. I’ve worked with chefs, mixologists, restaurants, bartenders, art galleries, glamping sites, experience agencies, bushcrafters, wildcrafters, cafes, bakeries, brewers, field centres, community groups, hen parties, stag dos, all-terrain vehicle manufacturers, outdoor gear brands, spirit distillers, forest schools, holiday clubs, scout groups, woodland trusts, councils, castles, conservationists, mycologists, gamekeepers, stately homes, cooking schools, food festivals, you name it! Foraging, wild food, gastronomy, mixology, mindfulness and nature appreciation can be brought into so many situations, it’s wonderful. Contact me if you’d like to explore the idea of a collaboration with me!

Bespoke courses and private tuition

I love taking people out foraging in their own area to help them discover what grows locally and gain confidence in finding wild food close to where they live. I can run sessions on wild cocktails / mocktails, making wild bitters, fermentation, tempeh, koji, growing mushrooms, mycology, plant seaweed and fungi ID, fungi or seaweed surveys, nature-spotting, wild meats, fire cooking, basket-making, needle-felting, wild pizza-making and wild cooking as well as foraging tuition. So you can also book me for corporate events and team-building days or I can tailor a bespoke course for any group to suit your requirements. Contact me and we can discuss options and pricing, depending on where you are in the country and how many people might like to join in.

Wild food supplies and ingredients

I can supply various types of wild ingredients when in season and, in some cases, pick sustainably to order, especially for wild greens. So whether you’re a chef, herbalist or an adventurous home cook, do get in touch to discuss your requirements. I’m not in a position to supply whole restaurants weekly or anything, but happy share out a big glut of bounty on an ad-hoc basis, or pick to order for a special event or for preserving batches etc. I can also offer limited wild preserves potentially. Happy to have a chat or point you in the right direction if you’re after more than I can offer.

A bit about me…

I’ve been foraging for wild food in some form since childhood and accrued a broad knowledge of British plants, trees, birds and butterflies from a young age, thanks to my awesome parents and grandparents (and Usbourne nature guides for kids!).

I started studying edible wild mushrooms in earnest about 18 years ago when I found out from a cooking show that expensive and delicious porcini mushrooms (ceps, Boletus edulis) grow in the UK and made it my mission to find one! It took a couple of years to find my first cep, during which time finding and identifying wild fungi had rapidly become an unquenchable passion for me. Gaining a fuller knowledge of plants, seaweeds and other wild foods and their benefits soon followed.

With a degree in biology, being a keen gardener, veg grower, and having a lifelong fascination with nature and wildlife, I’m interested in all aspects of wild food and medicinals – fruits, fungi, flowers, seeds, roots, barks, leaves, meats, seaweeds, fish, shellfish… everything. I love finding, cooking with, fermenting, preserving and eating tasty and unusual ingredients and exploring the health benefits of the wealth of incredible wild species we can find right on our doorsteps and along our coastlines. Foraging is also a form of mindfulness for me, forest therapy if you will, slowing down and really looking. I travel to the coast a lot too because I adore the ever-changing sea as much as the mossy quiet of the woods.

For the fungi fans

As of this autumn (2019) I have now found and tried 202 different species of edible fungi in the UK. I’m thoroughly enjoying this journey of discovery and love to share my knowledge with others.

Sustainability

I believe in sustainable and responsible foraging – never taking everything, always leaving some to complete its lifecycle and for other wildlife to eat. I’m also keen to instil due caution and respect when learning to identify wild species, especially where it’s being gathered for consumption. We mustn’t try to run before we can walk… that’s when mistakes can happen and cause serious injury or even fatality. Check, double-check and then check again… and *never* eat any mushroom, plant (or anything) unless you are 100% sure of its identity and that it is edible. I also subscribe to the code of ethics and foraging practice as set out by the Association of Foragers, of which I’m a long-term member.

Get in touch

I hope you enjoy my site and seeing all the wonderful things I find to show you from my foraging adventures around the UK. Please do say hello and give me any feedback or comments on posts, pictures and video guides. And do contact me if you’re interested in courses, collaborations, consultation, private group foraging tuition or wild ingredients!

Happy foraging!
Lisa Cutcliffe
Foraging instructor and avid wild-food-muncher, Edulis