Here are a few ideas that you might want to try over the coming months.

Soup is always a nourishing and enjoyable meal. The leafy tops of radishes can be used instead of watercress and tastes identical to watercress. The pods of garden peas which we normally discard make a tasty and different flavoured soup. There is no shortage of nettles in our hedgerows and young nettles make a delicious soup.

Wild garlic leaves which are also abundant in our hedgerows around May time also makes a different vegetable when lightly steamed, and a cream of wild garlic soup now features on some local. restaurant menus. Remember only to use the leaves, there is no need to pull up the whole plant.

There are quite a few fruits which grow wild in our area, blackberries, raspberries and bilberries. These may be used in jams and preserves, sauces, pies or simply lightly cooked and served with ice cream.

A big bonus with picking fruit is that it can keep the children occupies for hours, under adult supervision of course.

For the more adventurous cook, why not try sprinkling nasturtion seeds on salads. The ultimate challenge must be our local snails. British snails are considered to be the very best culinary snails.

Around Todmorden this year there are several places where you can pick your own herbs and vegetables.

These places include the community herb garden opposite the cricket field in Burnley Road, Fielden Wharf's large steel planters, many of the barrier baskets and the station platforms.

Please feel free to help yourself - and bon appetit!