NEW WALK ALERT!
Introducing Scary Fairies - dark folklore guided walks
Think fairies are tiny, winged creatures spreading magic and kindness?
Think again…
Long before Victorian storytellers and later popular culture transformed them into charming little beings, the fair folk were feared and respected. They were blamed for mysterious illnesses, disappearances, strange lights, eerie music and all manner of unexplained misfortune.
Ancient woods, lonely streams, fairy rings and old trees were all believed to be places where these mysterious beings could be encountered.
Join us on our brand-new Scary Fairies dark folklore walk as we weave together history, mythology, humour and spine-tingling tales to explore the darker side of Britain’s fairy traditions.
If you love folklore, ghost stories, myths and the stranger side of our countryside, this eerie new experience is for you.
Dare to step into the world of the fae!
Limited venues only: Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire
Find out more on our website: https://www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/scary-fairies-walk
Hedgerows and Hagstones
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Formerly The Foraging Course Company. Providing engaging courses, walks and talks on plant and fungi science, folklore and history
Meadowsweet magic and medicine
Graceful, fragrant and steeped in history, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is far more than a beautiful wildflower. Once used to flavour mead, this elegant plant has been woven through centuries of folklore, mythology and herbal tradition. It appears in the Welsh legend of Blodeuwedd, has long been associated with love, celebration and protection, and was believed to attract the fair folk. For generations, it was scattered across floors at feasts and weddings, filling halls with its sweet fragrance.
Beyond its folklore, meadowsweet also played an important role in herbal medicine. Rich in natural salicylates, it helped inspire the development of aspirin, earning it a lasting reputation as one of nature’s great healers.
Growing in damp meadows, along riversides or beside woodland paths it blooms from June to July. It is one of Britain’s most enchanting summer wildflowers, with a story every bit as captivating as its delicate blooms.
There’s a whole lot more to meadowsweet, including its use as an edible plant, yeast source and pollinator haven. Here we have given just a small insight.
Join us on one of our “Wildflowers and Witchcraft” plant folklore walks to learn more about the myth and magic of the floral world
https://www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/wildflowers-and-witchcraft-walk
Final dates for 2026 released
Step beyond the hedgerow and into a world where wildflowers carry stories of healing, protection and magic.
Our Wildflowers & Witchcraft walks weave together botany, myth and Britain’s rich plant folklore as we explore meadows, woodland edges and ancient beliefs hidden in the landscape around us. Whether you’re fascinated by folklore, love wildflowers or simply enjoy seeing nature through a different lens, this is a truly enchanting experience.
The final dates we’ll be running for 2026 have now been released, so if you’ve been meaning to join us, now’s the time to book.
Check out some of the amazing reviews we’ve had on Google and social media.
Book your place via our website before they are gone!
https://www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/wildflowers-and-witchcraft-walk
Plants of murder, medicine and magic
Our new illustrated talk held at on 13 October 2026
Step into a world where plants are far more than just leaves and flowers. Plants of murder, medicine and magic is a captivating and entertaining talk that explores the extraordinary and sometimes dark relationships between humans and the plant kingdom.
From ancient remedies to modern pharmaceuticals, discover how the plants of Britain’s hedgerows, woodlands, meadows and gardens have shaped the course of medicine by saving lives, easing suffering and forming the backbone of many treatments still used today. But not all botanical stories are so healing. Some plants carry a far more sinister reputation, having been linked to infamous poisonings and intriguing cases that blur the line between myth and reality.
We’ll also wander through the fascinating realm of folk magic and superstition, where plants were believed to protect against evil, influence fate or unlock hidden powers. These beliefs, passed down through generations, reveal just how deeply plants are woven into human culture and imagination.
Blending history, science, folklore, and a touch of dark humour, this event promises to be as entertaining as it is enlightening. Expect surprising stories, curious facts, and a fresh appreciation for the plants growing all around us and the secrets they may hold.
This event is indoors with unreserved seating.
Check the events pages of our website for more information and to book.
https://www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/plants-of-murder-medicine-and-magic
26/06/2026
We’re rebranding!
For the past few years, we have been running the occasional non-foraging event - such as fungi and plant identification courses. In the past six months, we have also introduced plant folklore walks, which have proved immensely popular.
This increased diversity in the experiences we offer means that our trading name longer reflects what we do. Therefore, we are delighted to announce will be rebranding to Hedgerows and Hagstones to reflect both the science and folklore aspects of the natural world the company operates within.
What’s changing?
Overt the next few months, we’ll be replacing our old branding and web addresses across our website, social media and ticketing platform with the new logo shown in the image. We’ll still be providing foraging courses but we’ll be adding more non-foraging plant- and fungi-based courses and experiences including some winter indoor talks. The use of vouchers will continue as normal and their validity will be unaffected by the name change.
We thank you for your patience while this evolution takes place.
www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/courses
26/06/2026
We’re rebranding!
For the past few years, we have been running the occasional non-foraging event - such as fungi and plant identification courses. In the past six months, we have also introduced plant folklore walks, which have proved immensely popular.
This increased diversity in the experiences we offer means that our trading name longer reflects what we do. Therefore, we are delighted to announce will be rebranding to Hedgerows and Hagstones to reflect both the science and folklore aspects of the natural world the company operates within.
What's changing?
Overt the next few months, we'll be replacing our old branding and web addresses across our website, social media and ticketing platform with the new logo shown in the image. We'll still be providing foraging courses but we'll be adding more non-foraging plant- and fungi-based courses and experiences including some winter indoor talks. The use of vouchers will continue as normal and their validity will be unaffected by the name change.
We thank you for your patience while this evolution takes place.
www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/courses
Wishing all our followers a wonderful midsummer
Is hemlock water dropwort really Britain’s most poisonous plant?
Every spring and summer posts appear from plant enthusiasts proclaiming hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe Croats) as Britain’s most poisonous plant. But is this really the case?
In comparison to Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) it is far from deserving of that title.
This repost from 2025 looks at the toxins and doses of both, plus the reasons why the belief hemlock water dropwort is more toxic may have arisen
We’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible response to our new Wildflowers and Witchcraft guided walks so far. Reading kind words, thoughtful reviews and magical moments from the woods and hedgerows has been such a joy.
These walks are far more than a stroll through nature. We explore the hidden folklore woven through our wild plants and landscapes; from flowers linked to ancient gods and goddesses, to tales of mischievous imps, cranky fairies, fierce dragons, saints, sinners and spirits said to linger in wild places.
Along the way we uncover bizarre folk remedies, protective charms, old countryside superstitions and the ways our ancestors used plants to ward off evil, invite luck, heal illness, and explain the mysteries of the world around them.
Whether you come for the history, the mythology, the magic or simply the chance to slow down and reconnect with nature, these walks are designed to leave you seeing the landscape in a completely different way.
Thank you to everyone who has joined us so far and if you’ve been thinking about coming along, this is your sign.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.