A Cononley resident with a passion for learning about survival techniques will demonstrate how to obtain food and drink from the wild.

Sorrel omlette and blackberry vodka will be on the menu at John Hardaker’s Gourmet Gathering later this month.

He has been staging the event in the spring and the autumn for at least three years. It includes tastings, practical hints, a light lunch and a complimentary booklet of recipes.

The latest instalment will begin from the New Inn, Cononley, at 10.30am on September 25 and will finish at about 2.30pm. Participants will first be invited on a stroll to collect a variety of natural ingredients.

Mr Hardaker, 57, of King Street, explained that he had been interested in this hobby for decades.

He said: “This is all about what is freely available in the countryside, but these are things which most people would never even consider being able to eat or drink.

“I’ve called it nature’s harvest, because that’s exactly what it is – this food is all around us, but people don’t take advantage of it.

“For example, there are 187 varieties of seaweed around the British coast and every one of these is edible. How many people are aware of this?”

He pointed out that oak leaves could be used to make wine, horse chestnut leaves to make soap and elder flowers to make champagne.

He also cited delicacies such as worm omlette and blackberry vinegar.

He said he enjoyed teaching people about the medicinial properties within many plants, which can be used to cure conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

He added: “I can show how it is possible to make mozarella cheese in just ten minutes or cider in three days. I’ve done sessions on fungi, potions and different herbs.

“Of course, I always warn everyone to check what they can eat first, because some may have personal allergic reactions.

“Interest in survival techniques died down a bit in the late 1990s, but it started to make a comeback from about 2006.

“I’ve been interested in it for 40-odd years, but I find that I’m still learning new things.”

The cost of the September 25 Gourmet Gathering is £15 per person. For further details call 01535 631800.