A celebration of wild food and woodland is on the menu in the Welsh Black Mountains

Wild Garlic Festival

Two captivating forests in the Black Mountains near Abergavenny, Wales, are to host a celebration of woodland and wild food in April as part of Britain’s ONLY Wild Garlic Festival. What a great idea for a family day out!
This unique gathering is set to take place in Llwyn Franc and Arcadia Wood on the weekend of Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, thanks to funding from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, this spring’s Wild Garlic Festival promises to be even better with foraging, wild forest cooking, expert speakers and a relaxing atmosphere all on the menu.

Day one, at Llwyn Franc on the slopes of the Skirrid Mountain, will see guides taking foragers up to the woodland to pick their own wild garlic, before heading back to the farm for wild garlic and nettle soup. After lunch, Emily Stokes will talk about the work of the Woodland Trust, while Brigit Strawbridge will tell festival goers about wild bees.

The following day’s activities will kick off with experts providing guided tours of Arcadia Wood in the nearby hamlet of Pantycelli, followed by a series of cooking demonstrations by Franco Taruschio – the man who made Abergavenny’s Walnut Tree Inn famous for fine dining. Day two will also see talks by TV wild food expert and forager Raoul Van der Bourke, aquaculture specialist Lawrence Hutchinson and herbalist, writer and lecturer Christopher Robbins.

With space at the two venues limited for this year’s Wild Garlic Festival tickets, priced at £5, are selling fast so advanced booking is advised. To reserve your place or for more information visit www.communityforestfarm.co.uk.