Box Hill is a popular day hike from London. Many hiking groups go there. Set in the South Downs, it’s one of the hilliest places around London.
On arriving at the nearest station, Box Hill & Westhumble, some people head straight up Box Hill. It’s a sharp and sometimes slippery climb. Alternatively, you can finish at the top and descend, making your way back to the railway station.
If the water is not too high, you can cross the river on the famous stepping stones. There are alternatives crossings if you’re not sure about your footing.
When we went earlier this year, we found wild garlic growing. I few years ago, I discovered how delicious it is. So now if I see it growing anywhere, I pick some if it’s allowed. My first recipe was Riverford’s wild garlic pesto pasta. The courgettes can take a while to get to the right state but the result is delicious.
An alternative, and quicker recipe, is this wild garlic pesto sauce. If I’ve picked a bumper crop, I make lots then freeze it. However, it tastes best when it’s fresh.
I told a friend about wild garlic. And now she too is in love with it! I also mentioned a place near her that has lots. She goes there every year and sends me photos to tease me, especially if I’m travelling abroad. I usually reply, “Leave my wild garlic alone!”
Foraging is quite popular in London. A few years ago, I read a report that people in a nearby village were getting fed up of Londoners picking their wild garlic!
If you do decide to forage for wild garlic, make sure you know what it looks like. There are two similar looking plants that are poisonous! Fortunately, they don’t smell of garlic.
