HEALTHY DINNER IN THE FOREST
CMI PARTNER:
Region Nordjylland and the Danish Nature Agency, Denmark, working with local stakeholders including volunteers and shops.
WHO WAS MEANT TO DO IT?
Members of the local community and visitors to the region.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
People were invited to have dinner in the forest. The participants had to first collect herbs in the area and were told what they could eat and how to prepare it. Afterwards, they enjoyed a meal of fresh fish, red deer, vegetables, salads and freshly baked bread.
Eating from nature’s pantry has been done for years and it is important that people today are aware of this and by doing it themselves be given a greater sense of belonging and being part of nature.
The event aimed to make people more confident to use and prepare herbs and other products from nature and linked the natural and cultural heritage by eating nature’s products. It was free for the participants.
HOW DID THEY DO IT?
People were divided into two groups. One half went with two guides to collect herbs and other products from nature which could be used in the meal whilst the other group began cooking and were told how to cook healthy food with nature’s own ingredients in a hygienic way. After one hour the two groups changed over.
HOW MANY PARTICIPATED?
230 people took part.
DID IT WORK?
Yes, it was carried out according to the specifications. The large number of people put a lot of pressure on logistics in order to feed everybody a gorgeous healthy meal, but it all went to plan.
WAS IT SUCCESSFUL?
It was a great success and will be followed up next year. It was felt that 230 people was too many to instruct in how to cook healthy food in the forest in a hygienic way, but it was wonderful to see that so many people were interested.
OTHER POINTS?
In 2012 the activity will be repeated but will be limited to a maximum of 50 people. The Danish Nature Agency is building an oven to be used for making bread in the forest and that oven will be included next time. This oven is being built as part of another Interreg project called Rekreative Ruter.
