Mushroom

Foraging Workshop

26-28 September 2025

Welcome to our expert-guided mushroom foraging workshop in the ancient landscape of West Sussex.

We’ll explore the world of wild fungi with Chris Holdham—learning to identify, harvest, and enjoy them with care and respect. Rooted in rewilding and seasonal abundance, this is a chance to connect with nature, deepen your knowledge, and celebrate the wild through food and community with a magical farm stay at Westerlands.

Your host, Chris Holdham

We’re thrilled to have Chris leading this workshop. He combines wisdom, care, and enthusiasm to make our mushroom foraging experience both enriching and safe. He is a devoted naturalist with a deep-rooted passion for fungi and wild ecosystems. His approach is rooted in hands-on learning, ecological mindfulness, and a keen eye for detail.

Whether it’s identifying chanterelles flush among mossy conifers or distinguishing safe edibles from look-alikes, Chris brings a thoughtful balance of scientific care, local insight, and forager’s intuition.

Prices

Workshop price

£350 per person which includes:

Day 1 - Friday 26 September

14.00 Horsebox Café welcome refreshment
16.30 WildSpa Sauna & Plunge
19.00 Woodfire supper with your host

Day 2 - Saturday 27 September

10.00 Horsebox Café Workshop talk
11.00 Foraging walk with a picnic lunch
16.00 Wild foraged gourmet dinner over open fire

Day 3 - Sunday 28 September

10.00 Equine connection session
11.00 Horsebox Café farewell refreshment

Accommodation price

A two night stay in your own bedroom at Cedar Woods, a self-catering house shared with other guests attending the workshop. Our rooms range from single (£100), to double (£180) to king/twin (£200) and king/twin with ensuite loo (£220). There is one bathroom which is shared.

Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is at 11am.

-Water is from our borehole on the South Downs and is pure, sweet and safe to drink
-All bedding, linen, bath towels, tea towels, and microfibre cloths are provided
-We also provide basic pantry items - fresh coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sugar, salt, pepper, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, foil and greaseproof paper as well as fire supplies (a bundle of logs (enough for 2 fires), eco wooden wool fire starters and matches)
-We provide complementary hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner made by Faith in Nature and household cleaning products made by Ecover

Our accommodation is self-catering so we only provide the meals included in our workshop.

Choose your bedroom

  • Room 1

    Price: £220 (1 or 2 guests)

    A superking size bed (or twin singles), and lovely views of the garden through large double aspect windows. Ensuite loo. Shared bathroom.

  • Room 2

    Price: £200 (1 or 2 guests)

    A superking size bed (or twin singles) and calming woodland views through large windows. Shared bathroom.

  • Room 3

    Price: £180 (1 or 2 guests)

    A stylish upholstered sleigh double bed and calming woodland views through a large window. Shared bathroom.

  • Room 4

    Price: £100 (1 guest)

    A single bed and calming woodland views through a large window. Shared bathroom.

Book your room >

What to expect

Day 1

Arrival

2pm Meet at the Horsebox Café
Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee after your journey, meet your host Chris and the other workshop attendees.

3pm Check-in to your room
Get settled in to your accommodation, unpack and relax for an hour.

Day 1

Afternoon

4.30pm Wellness Experience

Join the other attendees for a WildSpa Sauna & Plunge or relax and unwind in your residence or explore the farm.

Relaxing in a warm sauna followed by a refreshing cold plunge can supercharge the benefits of both therapies. This energy boosting contrast is further amplified when surrounded by nature in a peaceful and private setting.

Day 1

Evening

7pm Supper
Join Chris for supper at Woodfire

Located at Westerlands, Woodfire Camping serve the most delicious meals made with locally sourced ingredients and cooked on an open woodfire grill. Think less a restaurant, more like going to theirs for a big, relaxed family meal. They cook one meal each evening, just like at home but with a meat and vegetarian/vegan option.

Day 2

Morning

10am Rewilding talk

Meet at the Horsebox Café for coffee and a talk from Chris about foraging and rewilding. Enjoy a specially prepared morsel of wild food to whet your appetite for more…

In West Sussex, rewilding is as much about rekindling our relationship with the land as it is about restoring natural habitats. These edible treasures connect us to the rhythms of the land, echoing the traditions of those who have foraged here for millennia. By engaging with the wild foods of the season, we step into a deeper dialogue with West Sussex’s timeless topography, where ecology, history, and nourishment are woven together.

Day 2

Morning

11am Foraging walk

Chris will lead attendees on a 3-4hr guided mushroom foraging session setting off from Westerlands, around the exclusive Lavington Common Plantation and secret locations beyond.

Chris believes that responsible foraging is more than gathering food—it’s about mindful exploration, ecological connection, and knowing when to walk away. His teaching emphasises safety first, ethical harvesting, and respect for fungal habitats. You can expect clear, approachable instruction, practical demonstrations (like spore printing and safe handling techniques), and a warm curiosity for what nature has to reveal.

Day 2

What to bring

Picnic lunch
Each residential guest is provided with their own pre-prepared farm-style picnic lunch, thoughtfully packed and ready to carry along on the foraging walk. Inside, you’ll find a delicious selection of seasonal farm favourites—freshly baked bread, home-made quiche, garden vegetables, and a sweet treat—all tucked into a convenient bundle. Please advise us of any dietary requirements. Bring your own refillable bottle.

Clothing
Wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions and seasons. Wear comfy walking shoes. If the conditions are expected to be muddy bring wellington boots!

Basket
Bring a basket, container or cloth bag to store any foraged food you would like to take home. We discourage the use of plastic bags to store foraged food in.

Also a note pad and pen to write down information and a camera to take pictures or videos.

Day 2

Evening

4-6pm Wild foraged dinner over open fire

Guests will watch a wild foraged food cooking demonstration by West Sussex gourmet hunt and gather chef Lee from @food_fire_knives where the day’s harvest is included in a beautiful, flavour-packed feast for all to enjoy, paired with refreshing drinks.

Wild foods captivate for many reasons—their intense flavours, gourmet quality, sustainable origins, or rich nutritional and medicinal value. With demand soaring among top chefs, these seasonal delights offer endless variety, from autumn’s mushrooms, nuts, and seeds to edible flowers, and greens.

Morning

10am Wellness Experience

join the other attendees for some quality connection time with our horses at the Trekking Centre.

Horses are deeply social creatures, and their sensitivity makes them wonderfully responsive to human interaction. Spending time with one of our horses offers a peaceful, rewarding experience—an intimate moment of shared connection. In their calm and non-judgmental presence, you’ll find a space ideal for reflection, comfort, and enhancing your well-being.

Day 3

Day 3

Farewell

11am Horsebox Café

Check-out of your residence before 11am and head to the Horsebox Café for farewell refreshments.

Don’t feel you have to rush off! There’s plenty on offer at Westerlands if you want to enjoy more wellbeing experiences. Book well in advance to reserve the time you want.

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