Urban foragers in London are opting out of the commercial food system by gathering their own fresh produce in the city.
With summer on the way, wild garlic, nettles, garlic mustard, lemon balm and elderflower are among the many plants in season, and can be made into an array of soups, sauces, cordials, salads and teas.
This is an alternative to shopping in supermarkets, which are often criticised for their waste and energy consumption — with Tesco reporting more than 35,000 tonnes of food waste in the UK in 2023.
South East Londoner spoke to Clare Qualmann, who runs the East End Jam community foraging project, and Geny Caloisi, who organises foraging walks in Lewisham, to find out more.
Featured image credit: Amelia Stout
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