Dan’s Foraging Adventures

'With a little bit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world, you can literally eat like a king/queen'

Recent Event 's

Spring Foraging at Highwood Farm.
Sunday 22nd May

Up And Coming Event's

Birch Tapping Workshops

Join us at Reuthe's 11 acres of stunning woodland where we look at how to tap into a life-giving nectar.

Weekend events

Week day events

Events coming soon

 See What our foragers have to say

Had another incredible day with Danny Pigden. Met some lovely people (and dogs - leah you are a gem!) Once again learnt so much but I wish my brain could retain more!! Highly recommended 🍄❤

 
Forage in the SUMMER

 
forage IN the WINTER

Dan's Story

Hi I’m Dan, I’m a chef, forager and now a wild food teacher.
I have been cooking professionally for 20 years and foraging for well over 30 years now. 
My love for foraging comes from my Dad. 
I remember when I was 5 going out into my parent's garden and asking him 
what these mushrooms were that were growing. 
His words were “they’re breakfast.” That was it I became fascinated by all things fungi

We purchased our first mushroom identification book "Mushrooms" by the late Roger Philips"
 
We would then go out most weekends to see what we could find and inevitably cook. I became mushroom obsessed I even did a school project on the subject. 

The mushroom Chef

After leaving school my next big move was food and cooking. Working on some beautiful restaurants using some of the finest foods known to man. Using ingredients like Chanterelles (Cantharellus Cibarius) Ceps (Boletus Edulis). 
These fungi fetch astronomically high prices and are normally only enjoyed by those with the money to purchase them. 

Treasure is right in front of you

My aim is to make these hidden treasures more accessible to us mere mortals. With a little bit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world, you can literally eat like a king/queen. Getting back out into nature helps us to reconnect with our ancestors. Who would have been Hunter-gatherers. 
 
I firmly believe Mother Nature can provide us with all that we need. I’m always filled with a sense of awe and wonder when I step into a forest. Everything you see is all working together in harmony. 
 
We also need to do more to protect our wild spaces. I’ve lived in kent most of my life and I’ve seen vast areas disappear to housing developments. I think food is a fantastic way to inspire others to want to protect the wild spaces to. 
I actively encourage children to join in our forays 
 
In Britain, I think our seasons are magical. From spring when life is starting to emerge. 
from birch sap rising to the smell of wild garlic. It’s truly beautiful. 
 
in summer we start to see plants and fruits and some of the early fungi. 
 
Autumn is probably my favorite time the abundance of fruits, nuts and fungi is amazing. Winter is a bit more challenging but the treasure is still to be found. 
 
Please come and join us on a foray and let’s help protect nature. 

'With a little bit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world, you can literally eat like a king/queen'

Spring Foraging at Highwood Farm.
Sunday 22nd May

Up And Coming Event's

Birch Tapping Workshops

See What our foragers have to say

Had another incredible day with Danny Pigden. Met some lovely people (and dogs - leah you are a gem!) Once again learnt so much but I wish my brain could retain more!! Highly recommended 🍄❤

Such an amazing day thanks Dan. The kids learnt so much and your knowledge was invaluable. Just got home and cooked a few dishes already. Highly recommend attending one of Dan's foraging trips. A few pictures from today's adventures

Thank you for a wonderful day Dan. Both V and I enjoyed it so much. Great group of people, lovely woods to explore and a teacher that knew what he was talking about.
Got home and created this dish before heading out for the evening. It was yummy!

So happy after taste testing the brittle gills to eventually find two edible ones. All cooked and eaten. Yummy. Thanks Danny Pigden on the advice and knowledge on these group of mushrooms. Eventually lost the burning on my tongue. 🤣

Amazing day foraging in the woods with Danny Pigden followed by a fabulous 3 course mushroom meal at the heritage kitchen garden in Biddenden. Highly recommend the foraging day - excellent knowledgeable guide, beautiful scenery and a hatful of mushrooms to take home and cook! 🍄 🍄 🍄

Forage in the SUMMER

forage IN the WINTER

Dan's Story

We purchased our first mushroom identification book "Mushrooms" by the late Roger Philips"

We would then go out most weekends to see what we could find and inevitably cook. I became mushroom obsessed I even did a school project on the subject.

The mushroom Chef

Treasure is right in front of you

Social Feed

Check out my latest updates!

'With a little bit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world, you can literally eat like a king/queen'

Spring Foraging at Highwood Farm.Sunday 22nd May

Up And Coming Event's

Birch Tapping Workshops

See What our foragers have to say

Had another incredible day with Danny Pigden. Met some lovely people (and dogs - leah you are a gem!) Once again learnt so much but I wish my brain could retain more!! Highly recommended 🍄❤

Such an amazing day thanks Dan. The kids learnt so much and your knowledge was invaluable. Just got home and cooked a few dishes already. Highly recommend attending one of Dan's foraging trips. A few pictures from today's adventures

Thank you for a wonderful day Dan. Both V and I enjoyed it so much. Great group of people, lovely woods to explore and a teacher that knew what he was talking about.Got home and created this dish before heading out for the evening. It was yummy!

So happy after taste testing the brittle gills to eventually find two edible ones. All cooked and eaten. Yummy. Thanks Danny Pigden on the advice and knowledge on these group of mushrooms. Eventually lost the burning on my tongue. 🤣

Amazing day foraging in the woods with Danny Pigden followed by a fabulous 3 course mushroom meal at the heritage kitchen garden in Biddenden. Highly recommend the foraging day - excellent knowledgeable guide, beautiful scenery and a hatful of mushrooms to take home and cook! 🍄 🍄 🍄

Forage in the SUMMER

forage IN the WINTER

Dan's Story

We purchased our first mushroom identification book "Mushrooms" by the late Roger Philips" We would then go out most weekends to see what we could find and inevitably cook. I became mushroom obsessed I even did a school project on the subject.

The mushroom Chef

Treasure is right in front of you

Social Feed

Check out my latest updates!

Spring Foraging at Highwood Farm.
Sunday 22nd May

Thank you for a wonderful day Dan. Both V and I enjoyed it so much. Great group of people, lovely woods to explore and a teacher that knew what he was talking about.
Got home and created this dish before heading out for the evening. It was yummy!

We purchased our first mushroom identification book "Mushrooms" by the late Roger Philips"

We would then go out most weekends to see what we could find and inevitably cook. I became mushroom obsessed I even did a school project on the subject.