Category: Seashore foraging walk

Seashore Foraging Walk 29/04/17

Thanks to all the lovely folk that joined us on our seashore foraging walk on the spectacular Jurassic Coast in Dorset last Saturday. The sun shone and we found a good range of seashore plants, seaweed and had good luck on the crustacean front. We are back again on 27th May (fully booked), for Coastal Plants on 15th July and seashore again on 23rd September. Thanks to those that sent in some of their photos.

The fiery Black Mustard - horseradish meets wasabi!
The fiery Black Mustard – horseradish meets wasabi!

 

Sea Beet - my favourite wide vegetable. Makes great soup amongst other things.
Sea Beet – my favourite wide vegetable. Makes great soup amongst other things.

 

Seaweed selection - some of the 10 edible species we found.
Seaweed selection – some of the 10 edible species we found.

 

Definitely something in this one
Definitely something in this pot

 

I'm staying here!
I’m staying here!
Lrts get another pair of hands
Lets get another pair of hands

 

Edible (Brown) Crab. Undersize (just) so back it went.
Edible (Brown) Crab. Undersize (just) so back it went.

 

Flounder (slightly surprised no other temporary residents of the pot hadn't eaten it!)
Flounder (slightly surprised no other temporary residents of the pot hadn’t eaten it!)

 

Feisty Velvet Swimming Crab grabs my finger.
Feisty Velvet Swimming Crab grabs my finger.

 

So glad I had thick gloves on!
So glad I had thick gloves on!

 

There's something interesting in this one.
There’s something interesting in this one.
A beautiful, but undersize Lobster, so back it went.
A beautiful, but undersize Lobster, so back it went.
Razor Clams

Seashore foraging

Thanks very much to the good people that joined us on our Seashore foraging walk on Saturday on the Dorset coast. They had a great time as we found:

  • A range of plants including delicious greens, expensive invaders and seriously DEADLY species.
  • A good number of types of edible seaweed.
  • Plenty of shellfish – both molluscs and crustaceans.

For most the highlights were the razor clams and the anticipation of what was in the pot – a remarkable 4 Shore crabs and 4 Spider crabs! Birthday-boy Mike got to take the razor clams home, and I had the Brown Shrimps and the biggest Spider Crab. Guess what I had for lunch today!

 

Razor clam
The salt is in the hole, water has bubbled up, the Razor clam starts to emerge, wait for it…

 

Razor Clams
Wait for it… you want a inch showing, then grab it between thumb and forefinger across the edges of the shell and pull…

 

Razor Clams
Cheer quietly or squeal with delight!!

 

Catching Razor Clams 1
More Razor Clams success.

 

Another Razor Clam
And another. I have to confiscate the salt after a while!

 

Cooked Razor Clams
Dinner for two
Glamorous assistant with the Shrimp net.
Glamorous assistant with the Shrimp net.

 

Spider Crab
Spider Crab

 

Cooked Spider Crab
Cooked Spider Crab

On the way home I picked some St George’s mushrooms which dried in the sun yesterday as did some Gutweed which the people on the course kindly gathered.

Drying St George's mushrooms
Drying St George’s mushrooms
Drying Gutweed (in the green house - a bit windy for outside!
Drying Gutweed (in the green house – a bit windy for outside!)

Yesterday, I hit the coast again and picked the below plus some Wild Rocket, Dulse and Carrageen.

Seashore basket - Alexanders, Fennel, Three-Cornered Leek, Sea Beet, Sea Purslane and Fairy Ring Champignon.
Seashore basket – Alexanders, Fennel, Three-Cornered Leek, Sea Beet, Sea Purslane and Fairy Ring Champignon.

Thanks to some of the course attendees for supplying photos.