THE fruits of the forest, hedgerow and field were the prize for people taking part in a free foraging workshop.

The event was run by Barracks Lane Community Garden, in East Oxford, on Saturday and led by Romilly Swann.

Participants were given the chance to learn about the ethics and legal issues surrounding foraging as well as going on a foraging hunt conducted by Ms Swann.

She said: “It was great to see such enthusiasm for this old skill.

“By explaining the ethical and legal issues around foraging, a new group of people now know how to forage with respect for the natural world, as well as safely for themselves.”

After the foragers collected a range of edible food, Helen Osborne showed them how to take sorrel and dead nettles to use in gnocchi and risotto, and how to make a fruit coulis from elderberries, blackberries and apples.

Among those taking part was Manishta Sunnia.She said: “I really enjoyed walking around urban Oxford and finding the free food that is literally on our doorstep.

“It was fun to make a meal out of what we foraged – the sorrel and nettle gnocchi we made back at the garden was delicious.”

The workshop was part of a series of events funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food programme.