Go wild for fresh garlic

IF you go down the woods today you may be sure of a nutritious delicious surprise!

Wild garlic season is upon us and for those yearning a spring in their steps, or simply an abundance of tasty, fresh, free greens, now is the perfect time to take a walk in the woods, breathe in some fresh air and go in search of this prolific woodland cropper. This lush-leaved Allium is otherwise known as Ramsons, and the best accoutrement for helping you locate it is actually your nose.

Of all our native edible greens, wild garlic is one of the first to appear, the simplest to detect and the easiest to use. It is characteristic to old established woodlands and it also grows in dappled shade conditions such as along streams and shady hedges. When conditions are moist, shady and right, wild garlic thrives and can be quite an invasive plant. It tends to form a distinctive dense carpet of leafy green growth in spring, followed by a profusion of pretty white flowers in May.