sensory walks: Discovering Wild Recipes

Join us for the next session in our sensory walks series, in collaboration with Girls Who Walk Newcastle, exploring our natural surroundings through our senses. This time, we’ll discover or imagine what the world around us may taste like. Our taste sensory walk invites us to explore the flavours of Jesmond Dene and Ouseburn, from berries ripening and rotting, shy mushrooms, rich and flavorful leaves and bitter seeds. Together, we’ll explore and share stories about how the landscape provides nourishment, for us, for our ancestors and for our plant, fungi and surrounding animals we share the world with. We will learn how taste and food sources are linked to the seasons, the patterns of arrival and departure of insects and birds, and what relationships of symbiosis are revealed as we pay attention. During the walk we’ll: • Explore the natural and urban landscape that shape our local character • Learn how to notice potential food sources and connections between flavours • Share and discover properties of plants, seeds and berries we did not know were edible • Reflect on the impact of climate change on food sources, and how it affects wildlife and our own wellbeing • Bring, collect and forage small bites of wild ingredients or foods. Creative invitation: share a wild recipe We invite you to bring along either 1. a food you made/know was made from local produce or foraged goods or 2. a recipe using foraged food that feels close to your heart for any reason. We will end the walk by gathering at Pavilion of the Commons near Wild Roots for a shared picnic with brought and foraged bites, and continue to exchange stories, recipes and wisdom around herbs, plants, seeds and berries ripening at this time of the year. 🌿 Nature learning Together, we’ll learn how looking carefully can help us notice biodiversity, from the mushrooms hiding in leaf litter, to the late summer spectrum of reds and purples berries (some edible, some not). The focus is on curiosity, observation, and finding new ways to connect with the environment. Meeting point: outside Star and Shadow About the Sensory Walks series A relaxed series of nature walks creatively exploring our natural environment through the senses, slowing down, noticing more, and reconnecting with the natural world. Each session focuses on a different sense, touch, hearing, sight, smell, and taste, using guided walks, nature learning, and creative activities to encourage curiosity and connection with the places around us. Each walk includes: • A guided sensory exploration of a local landscape • Simple nature learning and observation • A creative activity inspired by the surroundings and theme • Space to meet others and experience nature in a slower, more mindful way These walks are open to everyone, with no art or nature experience needed. Whether you’re curious about local wildlife, looking for creative inspiration, or simply want to spend time outdoors with others, you’re very welcome.