How to Gathering Wild Plants in Sweden (Safely and Legally)
There’s a deep sense of joy in foraging—gathering wild plants for your kitchen or herbal cabinet, with your hands and your senses tuned into the landscape around you. It’s a way to live closer to nature, reconnect with nature, and understand the land you walk on.
Is It Legal to Forage in Sweden?
Thanks to Allemansrätten, the Right of Public Access, we are free to walk, pick mushrooms and berries, and enjoy nature—even on private land. This unique Swedish law is a treasure, but it also comes with responsibility. While many wild plants can be gathered, there are some clear limits.
You are not allowed to dig up or collect roots in the wild without the landowner’s permission—roots are considered part of the soil and are not included in Allemansrätten. You also cannot remove bark, branches, or other parts of trees. Nuts and acorns may be eaten on the spot, but you cannot take them home unless given explicit permission. And of course, harvesting near someone’s home or cultivated land is not allowed.
Most importantly, never pick plants that are protected or endangered. Take time to learn which species are vulnerable, and leave them untouched so they can continue to grow and thrive.
Choose Your Locations Carefully
Where you forage is just as important as what you pick. Wild plants absorb what’s in their environment, and not all places are safe or healthy for gathering. Avoid areas close to roads, industrial sites, or fields that may have been sprayed with pesticides. A good rule of thumb is to keep at least 50 meters away from roads or cultivated farmland.
Instead, seek out clean, wild areas where the plant populations are healthy and abundant. Forest clearings, meadows, and near rivers often offer rich biodiversity. Choose your spots with care, and respect the land as a living system.
It’s also important to think long-term. Forage sparsely, and set up rotations between different stands of the same plant. Some species, like stinging nettle or meadowsweet, can be harvested every year in the same place, while others need time to regenerate. Never take more than you can use—whether it’s for fresh eating, drying, or turning into remedies.
Ethical Foraging
Harvesting wild plants is a gift and a responsibility. Ethical foraging means taking only what nature can afford to give. Focus on species that are abundant, and leave the rare ones to grow undisturbed. Before picking, take time to observe the population. Are the plants thriving? Are there enough left behind to flower, go to seed, and reproduce?
Many foragers today recommend not taking more than 10% of any given population. This helps ensure the plant can continue its life cycle and the ecosystem remains balanced. Also, be mindful not to always take the biggest, healthiest-looking specimens. Harvest a diversity of shapes, leaving some of the biggest and healthiest behind to support genetic diversity and avoids creating selection pressure on the population.
Pay attention to how the plant grows and reproduces—does it spread by seed, by rhizome, or both? Harvesting without considering the life cycle can damage the long-term viability of the species.
Practical Tips for Foraging
Always bring a cloth bag, a basket, or a breathable container. Avoid using plastic bags—plants can quickly become damp and lose their aroma and freshness. Mold can even begin to develop if the plants sweat in sealed plastic.
Scissors or a small knife can help you harvest gently without pulling up roots or damaging the plant. It’s also wise to bring a guidebook or a plant identification app, but no tool is better than experience: never harvest or eat a plant you are not 100% sure of the identification. When in doubt, leave the plant. Foraging is not just about collecting—it’s about learning, season after season.
Watch Out for Ticks
Ticks are common in Swedish forests. After spending time outdoors, always check your body thoroughly. Tick-borne illnesses like TBE and borrelia are serious, but with awareness and care, risks can be minimized.
Practice “Leave No Trace”
Foraging isn’t just about what you take—it’s about how you take it. With awareness and intention, you can gather wild plants in a way that is both healing for you and respectful of the land.