Research Walk Participation information

Embodied Foraging and Nature Connection

A Master’s Research Project at Lancaster University

Researcher: Colin Unsworth

The research explores experiences of connection with nature during a forage walk. This sheet will outline the involvement and processes for participants.

Introduction.
A foraging course teaches you how to identify edible plants, nuts, berries and fungi and how to differentiate them from poisonous species and this will be your experience on this research walk. Under my business name of Forest Horizons, I have been running foraging courses since 2012 and leading the UK’s largest online mushroom community since 2016. However, with my current status as an MA student at Lancaster University studying Theatre for Social, Political and Environmental Change, I now have an opportunity take a deeper dive into forage walks to explore how people experience connection with nature and how course participants might benefit from the walk in ways other than species identification and food for free.

The research output will take the form of a dissertation, but as this is a theatre course I will also be devising a creative performance in the shape of a foraging walk performance using verbatim words from conversations, observations and things that are said on the research walks.

I will be reaching out to look for participants in the research in a few ways: previous forage walk attendees, my social media pages and Mushroom Spotters UK facebook group, and through community leaders involved in community projects.

No previous foraging experience is needed, but experienced foragers are also welcome. There is always something for everyone to learn.

What happens on the walk:
· Each walk is a guided forage. For those who have been on a guided forage with me before, this will look much the same
· We will take a route through the woods and stop to discuss things we find. Spring foraging usually includes wild garlic, nettles, new shoots and edible leaves, and maybe St Georges mushrooms if we are lucky. This all depends on the locations and habitats.
· Walks are around 2 to 3 hours long
· Group sizes will likely be 10 – 15
· There will be an option to record thoughts and conversations after the walk
· I will make field notes and record my reflections after the walk

Participation is voluntary. There is no pressure to participate, and if you chose not to participate this will not have any detrimental effect on your participation in future walks.

Any participant can leave and opt out at any time and withdraw their contribution up to the start of the analysis or performance.

Risks
Physical: As usual on a forage walk, slips and trips, uneven ground, weather conditions, nettles and brambles present the most problems. Please wear suitable clothing and prepare for the possibility of bad weather on the day. All routes will be decided carefully, pre-walked and risk assessments carried out. A copy of the risk assessment can be provided upon request.

Emotional: We will be talking about nature connections and wellbeing, and these discussions can lead to the surfacing of past events and emotions. Please remember that sharing is optional; there will be no pressure to share, and any participant wanting personal space emotionally or physically will be supported and their wishes respected.

Under 16’s participants – this research will not be collecting data from children and is aimed at adult participants. However, children will not be excluded from the walks as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Please contact to arrange child places.

Benefits of participation
By participating you will be contributing to research in this field. You will also gain foraging knowledge which will help your confidence with wild food and habitat literacy.

Confidentiality
You will not be identified in the research output. Pseudonyms will be used. Consent for the use of photography will be individually decided, and photo consent will be discussed at the start of each walk.

Safeguarding exception: confidentiality may be broken if there is a serious risk to safety. This would normally be discussed with you first where possible.

Data collection and storage
‘Data’ will be collected from the walks, and this will take the form of field notes, optional recordings and my reflections. I will not be audio recording during the walks unless agreed. All data will be stored securely and password protected and held until I graduate from my course. Material will be anonymised.

This research has received ethical approval from Lancaster University.

Contact details:
Colin Unsworth: coluns@yahoo.co.uk 07984123891

Supervisors:
Cami Rowe – c.r.rowe@lancaster.ac.uk
Louise Mullagh – l.mullagh@lancaster.ac.uk