As foraging grows more popular, some public bodies have moved to try to ban it in certain areas. But is this practical, legal, or even helpful in a world that already undervalues the natural world?

As part of a series of articles exploring attitudes to foraging in a world set on consuming itself, wild food teacher Mark Williams explores its potential role in the rewilding movement.

Foraging for commercial gain gets a lot of stick from foragers and non-foragers alike. Is it really a problem?

I am regularly challenged about the potential negative impact on nature of foraging for wild plants, fungi and seaweeds. I’m glad of this, because it means people care. But while these concerns are well intended, they are often based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what foraging is.

As foraging grows ever more popular some voices question its impact. How does foraging and wild food fit into a society set on consuming itself?