Foraging

Foraging? 

Rowe has committed to becoming Net Zero by 2030 through the SME Climate Hub. A really important first step but what does this mean in practice?

As a company, we have several targets around how we work to reduce our carbon footprint.  Whilst they are key to becoming Net Zero, we felt it was important to also support local youth organisations with their environmental journey.

One of the things we are focusing on is nurturing young peoples’ connection to nature.  This was a deliberate choice for two reasons; it encourages physical and mental wellbeing and creates connections to the planet.

The pandemic showed how important our connection to nature is.  A short period spent outside can lower stress levels, improve attention spans and prosocial behaviours.  For young people this is important for mental wellbeing and confidence.  It also encourages connection to nature and the seasons. Long term this is important if we are to be successful with climate change.

So how do we connect children with the outdoors?  It is more than just plonking them outside.  They need to connect using all their senses; touch, sense, smell, and taste are all important alongside encouraging compassion for plants or animals.

With this in mind, we sponsored a local Scout Group to take part in a foraging activity with 7th Rise based in Cornwall.  Finding wild ingredients in hedgerows, woodlands and the seashore, the scouts learnt to open their eyes to what was around them and to look at plants differently.

Foraged food was then turned into a delicious soup and crumble over an open fire.  Double cream was not foraged!  They also had time to explore the area and have fun.

These are scouts who live in the countryside but no one in the group knew about the different edible plants.  This has been lost from our language as we have become dependent upon supermarkets and imported food. It was only one day but it has started a different way of looking at the countryside