The best foraging gifts for 2024: the art of identifying, gathering and bringing wild food home

What better way to say thank you to your forager friends this year, than with the best foraging gifts money can buy? Few things are as rewarding as picking the first green leaves of wild garlic in the spring, or finding a secret patch of mushrooms in the woods. And for those of us lucky enough to have such a person in our lives, having access to eat or cook with the (responsibly gathered) results is a joy in itself.

Whether you're looking for a lightweight camping stool for long stints picking berries, or a shoulder bag to hold a haul of hazelnuts, you'll find plenty of foraging gift ideas in our guide below.

For example, there are many different foraging books designed to help you find and identify wild plants — some even delve into the history of different species. Don't forget to check out our recipe section for some excellent ideas for how to cook it all.

Of course, the right outdoor clothing also make great foraging gifts. And, if you're interested in adopting a sustainable approach to gift-giving this year, discover inspiring ideas in our guide to the best reusable wrapping paper.

Best foraging gifts to buy for the perfect toolkit

Spear and Jackson Bypass Secateurs and Snips Set

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A sharp blade of some sort is an essential for any foraging expedition. This set from trusted gardening brand Spear & Jackson gives you two fantastic options: a pair of secateurs and a smaller pair of snips. Taking both out on the road gives you flexibility when it comes to gathering food.

Use the bypass secateurs for living stems and tough material, and switch to the snips when you want to make a smaller or more precise cut. Both have a carbon steel blade and soft-feel hand grips, so they should perform well and be comfortable to use.

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Red Hamper Wicker Garden Trug

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Having a trug to hand will make it easy to collect small foraged goods as you go. Rather than open and repack your rucksack every time you pick up some food, just toss it in your carry basket.

While there are plenty of plastic trugs out there, this eco-friendly alternative is totally biodegradable. Plus, its woven finish and neutral tones make it a beautiful option.

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Bulk Cotton Canvas Tote Bags

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A shoulder bag gives a forager the freedom to use both hands for picking, without the need to hold a container. They can also be conveniently folded for the trip out to your chosen harvesting patch. This cotton tote comes from a small, UK-based seller and is durable enough to stand up to general wear and tear.

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Waxed Canvas Backpack

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Even if you’re not planning to pick up a lot of produce, it’s a good idea to take a backpack with you when you go out foraging. You’ll need somewhere to store everything you take for your trip, from gloves and secateurs to berry pickers and any handbooks you carry with you.

This one is made from heavy-duty, water-repellent canvas and premium, reclaimed leather. It has interior compartments and external pockets to help you organise your belongings, and is finished with attractive metal buckles and zips.

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Sicilian Lemon Gardening Gloves

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Gloves might not immediately spring to mind when you start to pack your foraging bag — but they’re often invaluable when it comes to poking around in hedges and undergrowth. They therefore make perfect foraging gifts. Not only will they keep your hands clean, but they’ll also protect you against cuts and scratches.

These Sicilian lemon print gloves offer a practical and durable option for foraging trips. You’ll benefit from the reinforced palms and fingertips, as well as the adjustable Velcro wrist strap, which allows for a snug fit.

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Personalised Wooden Berry Picker Tool

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Picking individual berries can be time consuming — but berry pickers like this one get the job done quickly. As you slide them along a branch or bush, they pick up the fruits and pull them from their stems.

This traditional berry picker is made from beech and metal, so it’s sustainable and should stand the test of time. You can even personalise it with your own name or message, so it also makes a great gift for anyone interested in foraging.

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Food For Free by Richard Mabey

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Arguably the most important item to keep close by when foraging is an informative handbook. Picking wild fungi and berries can be dangerous, so you need to be sure you’re not gathering toxic varieties.

This one by Richard Mabey is a thorough handbook to more than 100 edible plants found in the wild. Inside, you’ll find advice on picking food, as well as some guidance on countryside laws and regulations. There are even recipes designed to make the most of the food you find.

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Robens Collapsible Stool

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If you’re planning to stop on your travels, or if you’d like to know you can find a spot to sit at a moment’s notice — take a travel stool. Collapsible ones like this pack down to a small size and are usually light enough to include in your backpack.

Made with a lightweight aluminium frame and polyester seat, this folding stool is a convenient choice for foraging expeditions. It comes with its own bag and weighs just 340g. When folded, it’s 33cm in length.

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Linkax LED Torch

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Even if you only go foraging during daylight hours, it’s a good idea to pack a torch with you. An extra light source will not only help you correctly identify plant species, but also come in handy if you find yourself in dark areas with lots of tree cover.

This LED flashlight from Linkax has more features than your average torch. It comes with five modes, including ‘high’, ‘medium’ and ‘low’ light, as well as strobe and SOS signal functions. It can even ‘zoom’, turning a wide pool of light into a focussed spot. Designed to stand up to the elements, this torch is made from high-quality aluminium alloy as opposed to plastic, and is waterproof and shockproof.

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LE Head Torch [2 Pack]

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Alternatively, you might prefer to invest in a headtorch, which you can use hands-free. This one from LE has a beam reaching 120m into the distance, as well as four main lighting options. Handily, you can rotate the angle of the beam too. Headtorches are perfect foraging gifts for children.

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Mushroom Forest Garden Apron

Buy now from Etsy (£49.25)

This versatile apron comes in a one-size-fits-all design, allowing you to wear it to the side or in front as you prefer. It features a convenient leather strap to hold your scissors, garden pruners, or small tools, along with pockets for your cell phone and seed packets.

In addition, the pouch securely opens and closes with a drawstring toggle, ensuring your items stay in place, making it an ideal companion for forest foraging, tending to your garden, or embarking on beach trips in search of treasures.

Buy now from Etsy (£49.25)

Wrenbury Mushroom Knife with Brush Folding

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This nifty bit of kit is essential for foraging mushrooms as it neatly combines a knife and brush. Made from stainless steel and rosewood, the folding design means it can be hung from a belt or popped in a pocket so it’s always at hand. It even comes with a useful pouch.

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• The best foraging books to buy
• Monthly foraging guide: what’s in season, where to find it, and how to forage responsibly
• Podcast: Autumn foraging for free food and simple cures with a modern herbalist in Bristol

These thoughtful foraging gifts for enthusiasts promise to open the door to exciting outdoor adventures, whether it's discovering hidden forest treasures or indulging in the joys of wild edibles. And if they're really keen on the subject, encourage them to take the next step and become an expert forager with our round up of the best foraging courses in the UK.

If you're looking for sustainable presents for family and friends, check out our guide to the best eco friendly gift ideas.