Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland

Over 60,000 copies sold - Order before 3pm on a weekday, and we’ll send it out the same day.

Rediscover the plants your ancestors knew — and your body still remembers.

Hi, I’m Robin Harford, forager, teacher, and bestselling author of Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland.

This book is the result of over two decades of fieldwork, study, and lived experience with the wild plants of these isles.

I wrote it to help you reconnect with a deep and often forgotten part of our culture: how to use the wild plants around you as food and medicine.

Whether you’re a forager, herbalist, gardener, walker, or simply someone who feels drawn to the green world, this book is a trusted guide to forty-eight of our most useful wild plants — backed by tradition, grounded in science, and full of practical advice.

What’s inside

• A brief cultural and historical overview of each plant
• Which parts to harvest for food — and how to use them
• Traditional medicinal uses from British folk practice
• Up-to-date safety notes and contraindications
• Nutritional highlights, including lesser-known benefits
• Clear, concise botanical descriptions
• Flowering times, habitat notes, and distribution
• Multiple full-colour photographs for each plant
• Insights from over 20 years of on-the-ground experience

You won’t just learn what the plant is — you’ll learn what it offers.

Praise from readers

"This book gives me so much joy." – Charlie C.

"Absolutely fantastic. So easy to use and accurate." – Kim L.

"It fits perfectly in my foraging basket." – Bex D.

"A hands-on introduction to edible and medicinal hedgerow plants. Great book!" – Siân M.

"One of the most helpful in my collection." – Gaelle C.

"A beautiful illustration of wild plants and flowers. Excellent piece of work." – Cathy O.

With hundreds of five-star reviews (see below), this book has become a go-to reference for thousands of people exploring the edible and healing plants of the British Isles.

Which plants are covered?

Alexanders · Black Mustard · Bramble · Brooklime · Burdock · Charlock · Chickweed · Chicory · Cleavers · Samphire · Mallow · Sorrel · Cow Parsley · Cuckooflower · Curly Dock · Daisy · Dandelion · Fat-hen · Garlic Mustard · Ground Elder · Ground Ivy · Himalayan Balsam · Hogweed · Horseradish · Lesser Celandine · Meadowsweet · Mugwort · Navelwort · Pennywort · Golden Saxifrage · Oxeye Daisy · Primrose · Red Clover · Ribwort Plantain · Rosebay Willowherb · Scurvygrass · Sea Aster · Sea Beet · Sea Purslane · Selfheal · Smooth Sowthistle · Stinging Nettle · Sweet Violet · Three-cornered Garlic · White Dead-Nettle · Wild Angelica · Wild Garlic · Wood Avens · Yarrow

Each plant entry is a blend of tradition and utility — simple, clear, and ready to put to use in your kitchen or home apothecary.

Why this book exists

For years, I walked these lands — living nomadically, following the plants with the seasons.

I spoke with elders, pored over obscure texts, and tested every plant in my own life.

This book is the distillation of that journey.

It’s not academic. It’s not esoteric.

It’s a practical, field-based guide rooted in lived experience.

Who it’s for

• Beginner foragers wanting a clear and trustworthy guide
• Experienced herbalists looking for culturally relevant references
• Gardeners and naturalists exploring native and naturalised species
• Cooks, wildcrafters, and home healers
• Anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with the living world

Order now

Order before 3pm Monday to Friday, and we’ll ship your copy the same day.

This book has helped thousands of people deepen their knowledge of edible and medicinal plants, and now, it’s yours to discover.