FRESH FOOD IN SEASON

In the hedgerows

Learning to forage is a fun thing to do as it puts you in touch with both the culinary and medicinal benefits of different wild plants, fruits, fungi, berries and herbs that you can find and collect locally for nutritional health and healing. Remember to always follow the Foraging Code (WildFoodUK), respect the land, animals, birds and other creatures who depend on wild food to survive.

I have written about the benefits of foraging and where to start in The Wonders of Wild Food and Foraging for Nature's Bounty.

Food to Forage

Chickweed, Hairy Bittercress, Dandelion Leaves, Sow Thistle, Wintercress, Edible Roots such as Dandelion and Wild Garlic, Nettle Tips

Nettles often start to grow new leaves in early February, pick only the new leaf tips as they are tender and give the best flavour in soups, casseroles and other pestos.

At your local market or farm shop

Vegetables - Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Turnips, Beetroot, Spinach, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Chard, Lettuce, Chicory, Endive, Cauliflower, Cabbages, Celeriac, Swede, Leeks, Forced Rhubarb, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes,

Fresh Herbs - Winter Savory, Parsley, Chervil, Thyme, Coriander, Rosemary, Bay, Sage

THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN

There is always something to do in the garden at any time of year. Use this quiet time to go outside into the fresh air and daylight, tidying and pottering in preparation for the Spring season ahead.

Weeding - gently sort through seedbeds to remove invasive weeds and large stones in preparation for direct sowing and planting

Planting - bed in seedlings under the cover of cloches to keep them warm and protected from the frost, prepare Rose seeds in trays of soil to go through a period of cold moist storage in a sheltered place outside or in the refrigerator for the next 10-12 weeks. This stratification process breaks seed dormancy and promotes germination before the seeds will sprout.

Repairing - rake loose leaves, create bug hotels and homes for small creatures by stacking cleared twigs and clippings in nooks and grannies, make sure there are gaps in fences and hedgerows for Hedgehogs to get through and turn coppiced Hazel twigs into supports for fast growing Spring plants, fruits and vegetables

Garden Ponds - maintaining a healthy environment for water plants and creatures is paramount so invest time in carefully cleaning out excess pond weeds before topping up with fresh water to increase oxygen levels.

If necessary, use a rake or net to remove leaves, mud and other debris from the bottom of the pond. If the debris is thick, you may need to use a pond vacuum to suck up the sediment. Clean the surfaces, and scrub the sides and bottom of the pond with a brush to remove algae and any remaining dirt.

Watering - don't forget to water any plants and trees - specially pot plants - that might be thirsty if they are shaded by buildings, walls or larger vegetation that means they have less access to rain.

THINGS TO DO IN NATURE

Feed the Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs can become very ill if they are given the wrong foods and will suffer from this when they are hungry and have little alternative. Never leave bread, milk or processed food as they are bad for our shy and solitary animal friends  – the milk upsets their tummy and causes diarrhoea which leads to dehydration, while the bread fills them up without providing them with any nutrients.

Leave out filtered water and high quality meat-based dog or cat food or crushed meat-based cat or high quality dry dog biscuits without any additives. It's a good idea to soak the biscuits first to accommodate young hedgehogs and make sure your water bowl is set low so that they can access it easily. You can buy specialist high quality meaty food made for Hedgehogs but make sure this is from a reputable wildlife food supplier.

Make sure there are plenty of gaps or holes in the hedges and fences in your garden to enable hedgehogs to wander and be where they need to be for warmth and safetly. If you sit outside at night quietly with a candle or low light next to their food and water, you might find you are honoured to enjoy a visit

Listen to woodland birds

This is the month for listenening out for Tawny Owls through the dark evenings as they call to each other. The males gently 'hoot' back and forth to each other vying for territory. The females make a sharp 'ke-wick' (tewit) sound which the males respond to with a wavering 'hoo-hoo' (twoo).

This is the best time to go for long walks in woodlands and forests where the aroma of the rich damp soil permeates through the air. Rich earthy colours are accentuated by the glimmer of damp from recent rains. This is the best time to discover unusual and bright coloured Fungi such as velvety soft Scarlet Elf Cups growing on decaying branches and fallen logs on the woodland floor.

Tune in to hear the woodland birds singing brightly in the cool air. Listen out for the 'tsip calls' of the Song Thrushes. As the month progresses, more voices will join in as we lead up to the Dawn Chorus as Blackbirds sing melodic notes that dance along a wider scale - one of the loveliest signs that Spring is on its way. 

I hope you enjoy making the most of Nature through February for your good health, happiness and wellbeing, and look forward to seeing you here for the next Almanac on 1 March 2025.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf

Buy a book!

Books with seasonal information presented for each month of the year are available from the Spiral Leaf bookshop using the links below.

The Almanac - A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz

The Leaping Hare Nature Almanac by Raluca Spatacean

The Forager's Calendar: A Seasonal Guide to Nature’s Wild Harvests by John Wright

Wild Hares and Hummingbirds by Stephen Moss

The Running Hare by John Lewis-Stempel

The Leaping Hare by George Ewart Evans and David Thomson

Meadowland - The Private Life of an English Field by John Lewis-Stempel

Spiral Leaf may earn a small commission on books sold using the above links in support of independent book sellers and bookshops at no extra cost to you!