1-2-1's & PRIVATE GROUPS
Wildlife Days with David Winnard
There’s something very special about spending a full day outdoors with no rush, no crowds — just time to notice, to learn, and to immerse yourself in the wild.
My 1-to-1 and small group days are designed to be relaxed, personal and completely tailored to you. Whether you want to deepen your identification skills, build confidence in foraging, or simply spend a meaningful day exploring nature, I will shape the experience around your interests and your pace.
I have spent over 20 years working as a professional naturalist and nature educator through Discover the Wild. My background spans fungi, birds, lichens, wildflowers, insects and broader habitat ecology. I’m not just focused on one group — I see how everything connects. That broader perspective means our day can flow naturally from fungi on a fallen log to birds overhead, lichens on ancient bark, or flowers at our feet.
This isn’t a scripted tour — it’s real field experience, guided by someone who has spent a lifetime out there.
We offer events on a 1-2-1 (or couple) or private groups, catering to your needs. Some people prefer to have a bespoke experiences which cover exactly the information, species, sites you wish to cover, others prefer learning at their own pace and not in a group setting, some want to go foraging with old friends whilst on holiday. Whichever one you are we can create something memorable and enjoyable for you. Below are some ideas of what people book us for as well as details on how to book your special day with us.
We can suggest sites to go to or if you want to know more about what is on your doorstep then we can come to you.
PRICES AND DETAILS
Prices will vary depending on travel, if you have a site in mind, but a typical private event in North Wales would be around £195 for a 3 hour session or £350 for a 6 hour session.
Obviously if you can get a small group together of people then the cost per person comes down (we charge a flat rate, not per person).
SOME IDEAS FOR YOUR DAY WITH US
🍄 Mushroom & Fungi Days
Fungi are where my own journey began. From ancient woodland specialists to grassland waxcaps, from mountain species to tiny ascomycetes most people walk past, we can explore the extraordinary diversity of the fungal kingdom.
You’ll learn how to really look at fungi — cap texture, gill attachment, habitat clues, smell, seasonality — and how to build confidence in identification rather than relying on guesswork.
Autumn is spectacular, but fungi are fascinating all year round.
Foraging Days
Learn to forage responsibly, confidently and with a deep respect for the landscape.
These days are shaped around the season and habitat. Along the North Wales coast we can explore edible seaweeds — learning how to identify common species safely, when they are at their best, and how tides and exposure influence what grows where. Coastal foraging opens up an entirely different world of flavour and ecology.
In spring, we might wander ancient woodland in search of wild garlic, young shoots and early woodland plants, learning how to identify them correctly and harvest lightly. Later in the year, the focus often shifts to berries, nuts and seeds. Autumn, of course, is prime time for seasonal mushrooms — when conditions allow, we can explore edible fungi alongside the essential skills needed to distinguish them safely from toxic lookalikes.
Foraging isn’t just about what you can eat. It’s about observation, sustainability and understanding the ecosystems that provide these resources. You’ll learn not only what to gather, but how to do so ethically, legally and with long-term conservation in mind.
Above all, these days are about reconnecting with the land and sea in a thoughtful, knowledgeable way — and leaving with both new skills and a deeper awareness of the wild food around you.
Wildflower Walks
Slow down and really look.
These days are about understanding plants in their landscape — not just names, but how they grow, why they’re there, and what they tell us about soil, geology and habitat. From limestone grassland to ancient woodland, dune systems to upland meadows, we’ll explore seasonal highlights and learn the key features that make identification easier. We can target unusual plants like Spotted Rock-rose or Limestone Woundwort, or immerse ourselves with commoner species.
By the end of the day, you won’t just know more species — you’ll start to see patterns.