S. COLE — FIELD NOTES
Foraging Log: One Full Year (104 Entries)
Region: Wythenshawe Park, Styal Bank, Hale Moss, River Bollin, agricultural edges South Manchester
Frequency: 2× / week
Year: Single foraging year
JANUARY (Entries 1–8)
Map (text)
[Wythenshawe Park]
|– North Woods (Hazel, Elder)
|– River Edge
|– Old Orchard
[Styal Bank]
|– Bollin Ridge
|– Beech Stand
Week 1
1. Jan 3 — Wythenshawe Park (North Woods)
Hard frost. Hazel catkins forming but closed. Found jelly ear on elder; firm, good condition. Nettles dormant.
2. Jan 6 — Styal Bank (Bollin Ridge)
Checked for velvet shank—small clusters on fallen elm. No other fungi. Cleavers shoots just emerging.
Week 2
3. Jan 10 — Wythenshawe Park (Old Orchard)
Windfall apples mostly gone. Ground ivy healthy. Collected a small amount for tea.
4. Jan 13 — Local Countryside (Field Edges nr. Hale)
Rosehips still intact; gathered approx. 300g. Hawthorn shrivelled, no use.
Week 3
5. Jan 17 — Styal Bank
Fresh oyster mushrooms on beech trunk; young, pale, non-bugged.
6. Jan 20 — Wythenshawe Park (River Edge)
Wild garlic shoots just visible—too early to harvest. Ground water high.
Week 4
7. Jan 24 — Styal Bank
Velvet shank again, slightly waterlogged. Cleavers more established.
8. Jan 27 — Wythenshawe Park (North Woods)
Jelly ear replenished after rain. Picked small amount; quality good.
FEBRUARY (Entries 9–16)
Map
[Wythenshawe Park]
|– Central Meadow (Nettles)
|– Stream Cut
[Styal Bank]
|– Lower Path (Ramsons)
9. Feb 1 — Central Meadow
Nettle tips harvestable—first proper greens of the year.
10. Feb 4 — Styal Bank (Lower Path)
Ramsons leaves now 3–4 cm. Harvest minimal for sustainability.
11. Feb 8 — Wythenshawe Park
Early birch sap rising; tested with small pruning cut—confirmed flow.
12. Feb 11 — Local Countryside (Bollin Fields)
Coltsfoot flowers emerging on bare soil patches.
13. Feb 15 — Styal Bank
Ramsons spreading strongly. Picked handful.
14. Feb 18 — Wythenshawe Park (Stream Cut)
Cleavers abundant and tender.
15. Feb 22 — Park Orchard Wall
Herb robert showing. No harvest.
16. Feb 25 — Countryside Lanes
Gorse blooming; collected small amount of petals.
MARCH (Entries 17–24)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Wild Garlic Zone
|– Wet Woodland
Styal Bank
|– Upper Beech Terrace
17. Mar 1 — Wythenshawe (Garlic Zone)
Ramsons fully in. Harvest good.
18. Mar 4 — Styal Bank
Oyster flush finished. Beech leaves in bud.
19. Mar 8 — Wythenshawe (Wet Woodland)
Lesser celandine flowers emerging. Only leaves edible, harvested carefully.
20. Mar 11 — Countryside (Lane Banks)
Hairy bittercress abundant; mild pepper taste.
21. Mar 15 — Wythenshawe
Garlic mustard first leaves noticed.
22. Mar 18 — Styal Bank
Wild garlic carpet dense. Harvest moderate.
23. Mar 22 — Countryside
Dandelion leaves tender.
24. Mar 25 — Wythenshawe
Beech buds splitting. Foraged small amount for pickling.
APRIL (Entries 25–32)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Orchard
|– Northern Beech Line
Styal Bank
|– Bollin Path
25. Apr 1 — Orchard
Apple blossom early. Herb robert plentiful.
26. Apr 4 — Styal Bank
Young beech leaves perfect for “beech leaf noyau.”
27. Apr 8 — Wythenshawe
Sweet violets blooming. Light harvest.
28. Apr 11 — Countryside
Hawthorn budding. Cleavers still tender.
29. Apr 15 — Wythenshawe
Garlic mustard flowering; leaves spicier now.
30. Apr 18 — Styal Bank
Ramsons flowering. Picked buds for pickling.
31. Apr 22 — Countryside (Hale Moss edge)
Boggy ground; found marsh marigold flowers—no harvest.
32. Apr 26 — Wythenshawe
Nettles tall; harvested tips only.
MAY (Entries 33–40)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Meadow Margin
|– Old Oaks
Styal Bank
|– Ridge Meadow
33. May 1 — Meadow Margin
Jack-by-the-hedge abundant.
34. May 4 — Styal Bank
Hawthorn leaf & flower at peak—collected small bag.
35. May 8 — Wythenshawe
Dandelion flowers prolific; harvested for syrup.
36. May 11 — Countryside (Farmland edges)
Elder coming into flower.
37. May 15 — Wythenshawe (Old Oaks)
Found chicken of the woods at good stage; bright yellow, soft.
38. May 18 — Styal Bank
Wood sorrel patches healthy.
39. May 22 — Countryside
Elderflower full bloom.
40. May 25 — Wythenshawe
Cleavers toughening; no longer harvesting.
JUNE (Entries 41–48)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Orchard
|– Stream edge
Styal Bank
|– Beech Terrace
41. Jun 1 — Orchard
Unripe apples forming. Meadowsweet appearing.
42. Jun 4 — Styal Bank
Beech leaves tough now. Wood sorrel still good.
43. Jun 8 — Wythenshawe (Stream edge)
Meadowsweet harvest (small). Elder flowers finishing.
44. Jun 11 — Countryside (Bollin Fields)
Red clover abundant.
45. Jun 15 — Wythenshawe
Nettles flowering; season over.
46. Jun 18 — Styal Bank
Butterbur large; only stems usable but avoided (taste poor).
47. Jun 22 — Countryside
Wild strawberries found sparingly.
48. Jun 25 — Wythenshawe
Lime flowers just opening; picked small amount.
JULY (Entries 49–56)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Central Fields
|– Woodland Fringe
Styal Bank
|– Riverside
49. Jul 1 — Central Fields
Lime blossom peak.
50. Jul 4 — Styal Riverside
Meadowsweet heavy bloom.
51. Jul 8 — Wythenshawe
Brambles forming green berries.
52. Jul 11 — Countryside
Wild cherries ripe; birds claiming most.
53. Jul 15 — Styal Bank
Mugwort fully grown.
54. Jul 18 — Wythenshawe
Found chicken of the woods second flush.
55. Jul 22 — Countryside
Meadowsweet finishing; yarrow starting.
56. Jul 25 — Wythenshawe
Blackberries turning red.
AUGUST (Entries 57–64)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Blackberry Ridges
Styal Bank
|– High Path
Countryside
|– Hedgerows
57. Aug 1 — Wythenshawe
First ripe blackberries.
58. Aug 4 — Styal Bank
Bilberry patches sparse; collected few.
59. Aug 8 — Countryside Hedgerows
Blackberries abundant.
60. Aug 11 — Wythenshawe
Elderberries forming, still red.
61. Aug 15 — Styal Bank
Chanterelle lookalikes observed (false chanterelle) — left untouched.
62. Aug 18 — Countryside
Yarrow harvest.
63. Aug 22 — Wythenshawe
Blackberries peak.
64. Aug 25 — Styal Bank
Rowan berries bright orange/red.
SEPTEMBER (Entries 65–72)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Orchard
|– Hazel Corners
Styal Bank
|– Beech and Birch Mix
65. Sep 1 — Wythenshawe Orchard
Windfall apples gathered.
66. Sep 4 — Styal Bank
Rowan berries ripe. Collected modest amount.
67. Sep 8 — Wythenshawe (Hazel Corners)
Hazelnuts falling. Most predated.
68. Sep 11 — Countryside
Haws ripening.
69. Sep 15 — Styal Bank
Early mushrooms: brown birch bolete (good).
70. Sep 18 — Wythenshawe
Elderberries ripe; harvested small basket.
71. Sep 22 — Countryside
Sloes just beginning colour change.
72. Sep 25 — Styal Bank
Birch boletes again. Some slug damage.
OCTOBER (Entries 73–80)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Mixed Woodland
Styal Bank
|– Bollin Slopes
Countryside
|– Hedgerow Clusters
73. Oct 1 — Wythenshawe
Parasol mushroom found—classic features confirmed.
74. Oct 4 — Styal Bank
Fly agaric appearing. Photographed, not touched.
75. Oct 8 — Countryside Hedgerows
Rosehips at prime.
76. Oct 11 — Wythenshawe
Wood blewits developing; confirmed lilac gills.
77. Oct 15 — Styal Bank
Hedgehog mushrooms located (spines beneath cap). Good condition.
78. Oct 18 — Countryside
Sloes harvesting started.
79. Oct 22 — Wythenshawe
Field mushrooms scattered after rain.
80. Oct 25 — Styal Bank
Late chanterelles—small find.
NOVEMBER (Entries 81–88)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– Wet Woodland
Styal Bank
|– Lower Ridge
Countryside
|– Old Farmside Trees
81. Nov 1 — Wythenshawe
Blewits continuing. Nettles regrowing lightly.
82. Nov 4 — Styal Bank
Oyster mushrooms return on same beech log.
83. Nov 8 — Countryside
Crab apples ripe; collected few kg.
84. Nov 11 — Wythenshawe
Jelly ear appearing again on elder.
85. Nov 15 — Styal Bank
Velvet shank early flush.
86. Nov 18 — Countryside
Late hawthorn berries.
87. Nov 22 — Wythenshawe
Ground ivy still viable.
88. Nov 25 — Styal Bank
Frost overnight—mushroom slowdown.
Planned DECEMBER (Entries 89–104)
Map
Wythenshawe Park
|– All Sections (Winter Scan)
Styal Bank
|– Riverbank
89. Dec 1 — Wythenshawe
Jelly ear healthy; frost-resistant.
90. Dec 4 — Styal Bank
Velvet shank orange clusters. Good.
91. Dec 7 — Countryside
Rosehips still firm—late-season batch.
92. Dec 10 — Wythenshawe
Nettles dormant. Elder stems clean.
93. Dec 13 — Styal Bank
Minimal activity. Cleavers seed burrs falling.
94. Dec 16 — Countryside
Yarrow still available.
95. Dec 19 — Wythenshawe
Found fresh oyster mushrooms (rare for December).
96. Dec 21 — Styal Bank
Beech mast mostly eaten.
97. Dec 24 — Wythenshawe
Ground ivy harvest for winter tea.
98. Dec 27 — Countryside
Frost-heaved soil, no finds.
99. Dec 28 — Styal Bank
Velvet shank final harvest.
100. Dec 29 — Wythenshawe
Jelly ear steady.
101. Dec 30 — Countryside
Rosehip remnants.
102. Dec 31 (AM) — Wythenshawe
Cold, no new growth.
103. Dec 31 (PM) — Styal Bank
Final seasonal sweep. Oyster clusters small.
104. Dec 31 (Night) — Home notes
Season summary logged; drying cabinet loaded with final mushrooms.
