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A week of Wild Food for European Week for Waste Reduction

11/30/2013

Recently we held a series of Super wild food events for the European Week for Waste Reduction 2013, these Foraging and Wild Food events were all about reconnecting folks to wild foods and also in promoting the Love Food Hate Waste ethos of trying to reduce household food wastage.

During this week I was a guest of 5 councils at 5 different events across NI, I had the company of some super chefs, who each helped to promote the LFHW ethos with some Al-Fresco cooking inspiration...

We visited some super forests through the week:

Delamont Country Park, as guests of Down Council
Derrynoid Forest, as guests of Magherafelt Council

Ashbrook Estate, as guests of Derry Council

Downhill Forest, as guests of Coleraine Council

Portglenone Ancient Woodland, as guests of Ballymena Council

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Derrynoid Forest - Wild Food Walk

11/17/2013

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On sunday we had a super Wild Food event in Derrynoid forest in Draperstown for European Week for Waste Reduction, this was all about highlighting wild food.

Thanks to John Murtagh, Environmental Awareness Officer from Maugherafelt Council for suggesting this venue and for organising everything!!

We walked the main boundary path, highlighting what to look for and at what times of the year you'd commonly find them at...

Derrynoid forest comprises some 200 acres and is under the control of the Forest Service, the newly planted sections date from the 1950's and comprise lots of oak and beech planting with small amount of conifers.

The estate that Derrynoid occupies was created by Judge Torrens in the early 1800's, and parts of the former grandeur of the parkland gardens can be seen in various parts throughout the trail with some super specimen conifers and plants, such as this Weeping Ash tree, Fraxinus excelsior Pendula.

There are cracking specimen plants dotted around the former Parkland gardens, such as this Korean Spice Viburnum

Now unfortunatly the Derrynoid centre that used to occupy this site is now closed, but dotted around the estate there is wee features like this carved bench, which offer glimpses of perhaps what the set-up was like back in the late 90's when it was at its peak.

The paths in the Forest are excellent and all areas are easily accessible with buggies and well worth a wee dander.

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Love Food Hate Waste Foraging and Wild Cookery

11/15/2013

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European Week for Waste Reduction runs from the 16th November to the 24th November in 2013, and to mark this we are running a series of super woodland forages and wild cookery sessions...in 5 locations throughout NI

All the events are completely Family friendly and are all free to attend.

The first event kicks off at Derrynoid Forest at Draperstown at 12 noon on Sunday 17th November 2013. This event will see BBC Radio Foyles Gareth Austin lead a walk through the Derrynoid Forest highlighting wild food thats in season now and what to look for throughout the year, BBC Radio Ulster chef Paula McIntyre will then perform some Al-fresco cooking using common kitchen left-overs, store cupboard favourites and some wild food, all in the Love Food Hate Waste mantra!

Wednesday 20th sees us bring the Love Food Hate Waste roadshow of wild food to DownHill Forest. Here Chef Emmett McCourt will be beating the Love Food Hate Waste drum and I'll be highlighting potential wild foods that grow in this type of forest...all under the shelter of some massive conifer trees....Event kicks off at 12noon.

Thursday 21st from 12noon sees us take in the fabulous Portglenone Ancient Woodland, a super venue for an event like this. We'll have a dander through the forest exploring whats in season now and other delights to look out for throughout the year in a typical woodland like this. Also on hand will be chef Darren Iddon from the amazing Queens Quay Social Restaurant who's al-fresco cookery demonstration will cover the Love Food Hate Waste ethos of utilising common left-overs with store-cupboard favourites....

Sat 23rd sees us visit the ancient woodland which surrounds Ashbrook Estate in Derry City, this event will see Gareth lead a forage walk through the property highlighting whats in season now, aswell as other delights to look out for throughout the season in a typical woodland. Chef Darren Iddon from the Queens Quay Social will be on hand to demonstrate some seasonal cooking using the Love Food Hate Waste Mantra of utilizing common left-overs store cupboard favorites and other wild foods. The event starts at 12noon.

Sunday 24th sees us visit Delamont Country Park at Downpatrick as guests of Down District Council, this event will once again see Chef Darren Iddon from Derrys Queens Quay Social Restaurant on hand to offer some inspirational culinary delights using common leftovers, store cupboard favorites 'The Love Food Hate Waste Way' and some wild food. Gareths 'wild walk' starts the event at 12 noon.

Picture from WalkNI

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A week of Wild Food for European Week for Waste Reduction

Derrynoid Forest - Wild Food Walk

Love Food Hate Waste Foraging and Wild Cookery

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