Henrietta Fernandez (Eatsleavesshootsandweeds)

Nibbling on leaves in the country lanes since I was a child, growing up in leafy rural Hertfordshire, surrounded by fields and nature.

A mushroom hunter since my 20s and more recently somewhat obsessed, some might say...I will be out there looking and learning as soon as it is St George's day, when the first good edible fungi wake up from their winter slumber.

I love nothing more than being out in the Sussex countryside, taking my borrowed dog Woody along for the ride. This year so far has been sensational in fungi hunting, new species and old filling my basket.

A recent school teacher of Design and Technology/ Food Prep and Nutrition, and jewellery designer maker by trade, I have begun diversifying and now take groups out in the field to learn about the flora and fauna. A natural progression from the school classroom. I love to teach and pass on my knowledge, and it helps with my passion for nature and to be able to learn so much more myself. With over 15,000 known fungi species in the UK there is still always much to learn and discover!

Through Instagram I have shared my finds, and as a result am delighted to have become a valued member of The Association Of Foragers- a brilliant community, where we share our knowledge and passion in foraging and amazing recipes on wild food and booze. Our recent meet up of 75 of us was incredible- 3 days where we shared our knowledge and amazing wild food, cooked up by three knowledgeable and highly inventive forager chefs . I have taken part in the British Wild Food Festival twice, taking groups out into the beautiful landscapes of Shropshire on guided ID walks for wild edible plants.

I regularly work with the renowned Woodfire Camping, at their sites near Petworth and Firle, on corporate and private events with schools and individuals, taking groups out on ID walks, and working with some of the best Fire chefs, bringing wild plants and fungi back to the table for customers to enjoy. Absolutely love working there.

Ashburnham Place near Battle has been a place I love to work at too- with a company called Closer to the Land, taking groups of school children and disadvantaged students out into the grounds to ID wild edible plants, coming back to make flat breads with some of the plants they have found. A joy!

So, why not join me on a walk sometime? Who knows what we will find!