Selfsufficientish.com

I am sure most of you will have seen Ray Mears' great series on Wild Foods available in the UK.

I was particularly interested by the seafood foraging that could be done, mainly because it appears to escape (for most part) the changing seasons.

I would love to hear of each of your experiences in seaside/beach foraging, and would suggest we do the following.

- Provide your top 3 seaside/beach forageable foods (with descriptions of how to identify them and if you are feeling generous, photos to help id them)

- Provide your top 3 tips for foraging along the coastline (things like what tides to aim for high/low, precautions to take)

- Provide your top 3 ideas for cooking/preserving what you foraged (anything from how to store shellfish to your favorite recipes).

Bring it on, and I just can't wait!

Many thanks,

Duncan

I love beach foraging,I don't normally start untill late spring.(Most of the coast around me is not to friendly in winter .). But i'll have a go at your list: First off top 3 foods: Limpets have to be my favourite Just because there are so many of them and they are easy to gather.(Sharpe blow with a rock or the back of your knife usually does the trick.) Best to collect them at low tide. 2nd I'll go for a fish. Mackerel. Don't ask me why but this is my favourite fish to eat, I would choose it over anything else. I would recommend trying to get out on a boat to catch these. Last I'll got for somthing green. Sea weed. Alot of people turn there nose up at the thought of eating seaweed even though it is very nutritious. The one i like the most is sea lettuce. You can find it in most rock pools so collect it at low tide.

Top 3 tips for foraging along the coastline: Low tide is always good if your going for things like limpets,razorfish and so on. High tides are good for fishing.
If you can, Try snorkeling. Its a great way to see the under water world too.
And 3 is a precaution. Always check tide timtables(We have some deadly coves here, When the tide comes in your trapped, When your foraging its easy to lose track of the time so always keep an eye on your watch. Ive been trapped a few times now and its not fun . Long wait for the tide to go back out again too .) And if you can take someone along with you, Two sets of eyes are better than one. And last always tell someone were you are foraging or even camping the night, and give them the time you are planning on being back.

And last. Top 3 ideas for cooking/preserving.
Ive only ever tryed to preserve seafood once before, It was fish and it went horribly wrong so i want get into that.
Best way cook it is to do what ray does and bung it in the fire .
some people do recommend that you soak shellfish in fresh water for 24 hours to flush them out. I normally do this as our beaches are not as clean as they used to be. Make sure you discard any that have died in the 24 hours.


Kev.