Foraging and Hapazome at Ryebank Fields
Parents for Future Manchester & Common Cloth CIC
@parentsforfuture_manchester, @commonclothmcr
Tuesday 21.03.2026
10.00am – 11.30pm
Ryebank Fields, Chorlton, Manchester
Meet just inside the Longford Rd entrance to Ryebank Fields.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HKm7ta1mVSmc2rnYA?g_st=ac
Description
This is a parent and child climate action playgroup session. Pre-school kids from babies upwards are all welcome. Adults will be learning as much as children.
Come and join us at Ryebank Fields. Learn about foraging – including how to use nature’s gifts respectfully and safely – and which plants to select to make beautiful pounded pictures on fabric and paper with the simplest of child-friendly, portable tools.
Hapa-zome (leaf print) is …. it is an excellent way to
Why is this good for you?
Tickets
Book your free place and don’t forget to cancel if you can’t make it. We can’t wait to see you there!
Postscript: Thank You!
Thank you to all the children, parents and grandparents who came along and to Amy from Parents For Future for organising and publicising. It was a pleasure to meet you all on such a brisk, sunny morning and actively explore the spring plantscape together.
If you would like to know more about how to support this beautiful, but threatened, green space follow @friends_of_ryebank_fields on Instagram.
We would love for the beautiful mini master pieces that you created on the day to be included in “Local Colour” at this years Chorlton Arts Festival 8th to 17th May 2026. This visual and tactile communal art piece will be at Cafe Bembe in Alexander Park throughout the festival. On Saturday 9th and 16th May, 2pm – 5pm there will also be family friendly activities.
Our Field Notes
Reciprocal Foraging for Dyeing and Printing
Reciprocal foraging rejects extractive ways of approaching nature. In urban spaces especially, bear in mind that you are probably not the only potential forager to visit a patch. Tread lightly!
How can we forage respectfully and sustainably?
Look for plants (leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds) that are flourishing and in abundance in that place, Take only what you need, no more. Pick plants and berries carefully so as not to damage the rest of the plant. Take only a little from each patch leaving plenty for the local wildlife.
Only forage plants you can identify and know are not endangered or toxic.
Remember to check whether you need permission to forage.
On Reciprocity
Consider what and how you can give, as well as what you may want to take …
Plant Identification
Below are notes on some of the plants we found at Ryebank Fields one morning in late April. There is much more yet to discover.
Alder, Apple, Ash, Aspen, Bramble, Cleavers (Goosegrass, Sticky Bobs, Sticky Willy), Dandelion, Dock, Hawthorn, Nettle, Oak, Rosebay Willowherb (Fireweed), Sycamore, Wild Cherry.
Below is an identification guide and some notes on each plant. Please note that this is work in progress carried out by voluntee. If you think that important information is missing, please email commonclothmcr@gmail.com or use our contact page to get in touch.
The Woodland Trust’s A-Z of British Trees is an excellent guide, as is their Wild Flower Guide. The Wildlife Trusts’ Wildlife Explorer is very comprehensive.
Alder ˆ
Alnus glutinosa
Useful parts for dyeing: aldercones.
Aldercones can be used to make a rich brown dye or ink which turns dark brown to black with the addition of iron.
Apple
Malus domestica
Useful parts for dyeing: bark.
The bark gives browns and tans.
It contains catechic tannins. Catechic tannins are proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins. These introduce red-brown tones to dyes (gallic tannins are clear, tannic acid is yellow to brown).
Ash
Fraxinus excelsior
Young ash shoots have a pithy core and are consequently good for making wooden beads and stick pens.
Useful parts for dyeing: bark.
The inner bark can give yellows due to its tannin content.
Aspen
Populus tremula
Useful parts for dyeing: leaf.
Aspen leaves give yellow dye.
Bramble
Rubus fruticosus
Useful part for dyeing: leaves, berries, new shoots in spring.
Bramble stems can also be processed into useful fibre.
Woodland Trust Bramble Guide
Cleavers
Galium aparine
Useful parts for dyeing: leaves and roots.
The leaves give tan. The roots can give a reddish colour, especially when modified with an alkali.
Dandelion
Useful parts for dyeing: flowers, leaves, roots.
All parts of the plant can give yellow on protein fibres.
Dock
Useful parts for dyeing: leaves, seeds, root.
The roots can give yellow to orange.
Hawthorne
Crataegus monogyna
Useful parts for dyeing: leaves and stems.
Woodland Trust Hawthorne Guide
Nettle
Urtica dioica
Useful parts for dyeing: leaves.
Fresh young leaves yield yellows and greens. The stems can be processed to extract a bast fibre.
Rosebay Willowherb (Fireweed)
Chamerion angustifolium
Useful parts for dyeing: leaves, flowers.
The mature leaves contain high levels of tannins and give yellow. The young leaves and flowers can also be used for hapa-zome and botanical printing.
Bast fibre can be extracted from the stems.
Wildlife Trusts Rosebay Willowherb Guide
Oak
Quercus robur
Useful parts for dyeing: bark, leaves, acorns, oak galls.
Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus
Useful parts for dyeing: bark, leaves
Wild Cherry
Prunus avium
The bark yields red-browns.
Autumn leaves create yellows and mustards.
Useful parts for natural dyeing: bark, leaves and fruit.
Cherry bark can give dyes in tones of greyish-brown, yellow, orange or pink. Harvest bark in winter or spring. You can use prunings. Soak in water for several days, weeks or longer, then apply gentle heat. Tannin1 rich and substantive. Alum can brighten pinks.
Leaves can yield yellow in spring and pink when harvested in late summer.
Fruits can yield pink and tan colours.
Woodland Trust Wild Cherry Guide