Back in the bay

The holiday makers have mostly gone home, the  children are back at school, the beach is ours again. But the wind was nippy and it was too cold to sit still.

I spoke to this couple when I noticed the woman collecting sea lettuce, Yes, she said,  she would wash it and add to salads - the dog liked it too. They weren't local so I told them about sea beet and rock samphire  and where to find mussels.

A lot of concern is expressed nowadays about nature deficit and how we are losing touch with the outdoors but the other side of the coin is that wild foraging has acquired a high profile. Lots of people are taking an interest in food that can be gathered for free. I don't like it when the stuff is picked in large quantities to supply restaurants but seeing individuals discovering the wild harvest for themselves is  nothing but a pleasure.