Suffolk Live, Ipswich (2026)

12/09/2026

A pensioner given two years to live after being diagnosed with aggressive blood cancer is still alive eight years on after signing up for a trial investigating precision treatment for high-risk patients.

Ken Theobold, 76, said he is able to enjoy spending time in his motorhome and being with his grandchildren after being given drugs tailored to his disease in the new trial.

The study, led by experts at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, involved 107 people with newly diagnosed high-risk multiple myeloma – previously known as ultra-high-risk myeloma.

Patients were given state-of-the-art diagnostics and tailored treatment using a range of drugs.

Long-term follow-up data has now shown that patients live significantly longer when their treatment is adapted to the molecular biology of their disease, the ICR said.

The ICR, along with experts from the University of Leeds, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and hospitals across the UK, treated patients with a stem cell transplant and a combination of five medicines already used in the NHS – daratumumab, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone.

But patients were given these drugs in a different way, with intense treatment at the start and continuing combination therapy for as long as the disease remained controlled, the ICR said. Mr Theobold, who was diagnosed with high-risk myeloma in 2018 after a routine blood test, was referred to The Royal Marsden and has been treated on the MUK Nine trial for the last eight years. He was given five drugs at the start of the trial and now remains on two.

“After my diagnosis, I was told that I might only have two years to live, which was incredibly difficult to hear,” he said. “Joining the trial was an absolute no-brainer. If there was a chance it could help me and help future patients, I wanted to be part of it.

“When I first joined the trial, I was taking five different drugs, which was quite intense, but I have since moved to the maintenance part of the trial which only involves two drugs. Today, I’m able to enjoy life with my wife, Brenda. We love travelling in our motorhome and spending time with our five grandchildren is what matters most.”

Long-term results from the trial have just been published in the journal Lancet Oncology. The authors of the paper said the personalised therapy “shows sustained, progression-free survival and overall survival improvement supporting implementation of molecular diagnostics and tailored treatment in patients with newly diagnosed high-risk multiple myeloma”.

At around six years of follow-up, 70% of patients who took part in the Optimum trial were still alive, compared with around 40% on standard therapy. Some 54% of patients on the trial remained progression-free at six years, compared with 18% of patients who received usual care.

First author Martin Kaiser, professor of molecular haematology at the ICR and consultant haematologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “High-risk myeloma has traditionally been one of the toughest challenges we face, with patients often relapsing early despite the best available treatments. These long-term results show that when we adapt treatment to the biology of the disease, we can significantly extend survival for many patients who previously had very limited options.”

Researchers also examined whether the personalised approach benefited people with subgroups of the disease. They used a test called MMProfiler SKY92, which identified people as high-risk by their gene expression.

This gene expression profiling is not routinely available in the NHS, meaning patients who may be high-risk may not be identified as such, the ICR said. The study found that 62% of this subgroup of patients who were given the personalised risk-adapted treatment were still alive and progression-free at six years compared with 20% of patients who had received conventional treatment. The ICR said that the test is being evaluated by health regulators for potential use across the health service.

Prof Kaiser said: “This study also shows that some patients with aggressive disease are currently being missed because the necessary molecular tests are not routinely available. Identifying these patients earlier could allow us to tailor treatment from the start and change the course of their disease.”

ICR chief executive Professor Kristian Helin said: “These results are a powerful example of how understanding the biology of cancer can transform patient outcomes. By matching treatment to the molecular features of each person’s disease, we are beginning to outsmart cancers that were once extremely difficult to treat – and high-risk myeloma has long been one of the hardest to treat effectively.”

Dr Sophie Castell, chief executive at blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, said: “Identifying which patients are more likely to benefit from a personalised approach to treatment has been shown to keep myeloma at bay longer and give people a better chance to live well with their disease.”

Around 5,900 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma – a cancer of the plasma cells – each year in the UK. Around a quarter of these have aggressive disease which responds poorly to conventional treatment.

✍Steven Smith

12/09/2026

The fitness industry is no stranger to viral trends and fads, from exercise snacking to vibration plates to the 75 Hard Challenge, and there seems to be something new popping up every week.

One trend fitness influencers have been praising is the Japanese walking method. But what exactly does this involve and is it worth trying?

We spoke to Steve Chambers, a certified personal trainer and gym manager at Ultimate Performance, who explained how this method works, as well as some of the benefits and potential drawbacks.

What is the Japanese walking method?
“It’s a cardiovascular training method, but it’s a little bit more focused than just going out and trying to do more steps because there’s a bit of a protocol to it,” says Chambers. The Japanese walking method is also known as known as Interval Walking Training (IWT).

“It involves alternating between three minutes of walking at a slower, more relaxed pace, followed by three minutes of faster, more purposeful walking, repeated in cycles for around 30 minutes,” explains the personal trainer. “So, the effectiveness of this workout come from the changes in intensity over this half an hour period, rather than the number of steps.”

Chambers recommends doing a warm-up before you start and explains that this method uses the RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) scale from 1 to 10 to help people measure and guide their pacing.

“For the slower three-minute periods, you want to be on the lower end of the scale, so I would recommend nothing more than a five out of 10,” advises Chambers. “If you do this with someone else, you should be able to hold a conversation during this three-minute window.

“However, for the faster three-minute periods, you want to try and push that up to a seven or an eight out of 10. So, you’re not quite maxing it because you want to be able to repeat this multiple times over the half-hour period, but your heart rate should go up quite a lot.”

What are the benefits?
Requires minimum equipment

“You can do it either on a treadmill or outdoors on foot,” says Chambers. “All you need is a stopwatch or a phone to help time the three-minute cycles.”

Ideal for beginners
“This training method is accessible to lots of different types of people, including those who are brand new to training and don’t know where to start,” says Chambers. “The entry level for it is really low because your seven out of 10 versus somebody else’s will be completely different, so it’s accessible for different fitness levels.”

Is more gentle on your joints
“Running has a high impact on your joints when your feet hit the floor. However, the surface impact of walking is a lot lower, so this walking method of training is much more friendly on the joints,” says Chambers. “Therefore, from a longevity perspective and an injury prevention perspective, this is a massive win.”

Engages lots of different muscles
“All the lower body muscles – such as your glute muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles – are engaged during this interval walking method,” says the personal trainer. “Even the smaller muscles, ligaments and tendons in and around the feet will all be working while you walk.”

He adds that walking also naturally engages both your core and your arms.

Boosts cardiovascular fitness
“During the faster intervals, you heart will be working a little bit harder and will be pumping more blood around the body, which will improve your cardiovascular fitness,” says Chambers.

Can be a social activity
“I would recommend asking a friend or family member to join you, as it can be a great opportunity to catch up with somebody,” suggests Chambers. “Sharing this journey can help boost enjoyment and motivation, which makes people more likely to keep going and do it more regularly.”

Is time efficient
“Everyone is so busy these days, so if you haven’t got a lot of time in your diary for training, you can just do this in a half an hour slot that you have spare,” says Chambers. “So, this is a really time-efficient training method which is another big win.”

Are there any limitations of this method to consider?
“One drawback is that there’s a limit of how much muscle growth, definition and strength that somebody could get out of following this walking training method,” says Chambers.

“This is because although the muscles are working whilst you are walking, there isn’t that external load that needs to be there to further increase strength levels and improve muscle definition. Therefore, I would recommend doing it in conjunction with other forms of training such as resistance training.”

He highlights that it’s also important to take every fitness trend you see on social media with a pinch of salt.

“I’ve seen many fitness trends come and go over the years, and while some are gems, some have no research to back them,” says Chambers. “So, if you see a fitness trend on social media I would recommend doing your own research and it might be worth consulting a personal trainer too to see if they know anything about it.”

✍Steven Smith

12/09/2026

A teenager who was taken to hospital with an asthma attack after excessive v**e use said he was “that addicted” that he was still secretly va**ng from his hospital bed, despite being warned that the habit could kill.

Freddie Janman, 18, a musician from Surrey, was diagnosed with asthma at the age of three, and he said he required “consistent” hospital admissions due to dust, pet hair and exercise.

When a friend introduced him to va**ng at the age of 12, Freddie said he would “always get really bad chest infections” that often required antibiotics, but he grew to be addicted to the habit.

At its peak, Freddie was inhaling around 1,200 v**e puffs a day, the equivalent of 80mg of ni****ne or two packets of ci******es, from the moment he woke up in the morning until right before he went to sleep again that night.

By the time Freddie was 18, he estimates he spent at least £4,000 on v**es or refills.

On the morning of March 30 this year, Freddie said he felt a tight chest, as if his heart was being “squeezed”, which worsened in the evening to feeling like he was “breathing through a straw”.

So his girlfriend, Zoe Henrick, 18, drove him to A&E, where he was triaged and told his oxygen levels were “really low”.

Freddie spent four days in hospital with an oxygen mask on, before he was encouraged to say that he smoked ci******es in order to be able to see a Stop Smoking nurse for help with kicking his va**ng habit.

“It was just really rough,” Freddie said of his time in hospital. “The crazy thing was – and I didn’t tell anyone this – but I was still that addicted, that I cheekily (v**ed) when no one was looking in the hospital bed.

“I didn’t want to let it go,” he added. According to a survey by the public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 19% of 11 to 17-year-olds in Britain have tried va**ng.

Nazir Hussain, Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK and Specialist Respiratory Pharmacist, said: “Freddie’s experience of va**ng as a young child is sadly far too common. There is a growing body of evidence linking va**ng to respiratory problems in children. For those with lung conditions like asthma, we know it can worsen symptoms and trigger asthma attacks.”

When Freddie first got into va**ng aged 12, after a friend his age introduced it to him while they were playing video games, he felt “it just looked really innocent”.

“Which is something really important,” he said. “To a young kid back then… it wasn’t like him handing me a pack of ci******es where it would create horrible smoke. It tasted nice and I got a bit of a buzz from it.”

Freddie said his addiction to the habit “very quickly grew” from there, including figuring out which shops near him were not stringent on checking identification, as the legal minimum age to buy them is 18.

“You’d be va**ng at school in the toilets,” Freddie said. “Everyone would sneak off and get inside the cubicles together and be va**ng.”

Within six months, Freddie went from having a 600-puff disposable v**e over the course of a week to getting through a 2,400-puff refillable one that would last just two days. Keeping his va**ng secret from his parents, an average day for Freddie would consist of waking up and reaching for his v**e first thing from bed, doing it all day at school and continuing right up until he went to sleep.

“It was like that all day, every day,” Freddie said of his va**ng habit for six years. Throughout that time, Freddie’s asthma diagnosis meant he was more susceptible to pick up chest infections, so he regularly went to his GP and was prescribed antibiotics to clear them.

In the beginning, Freddie did not disclose that he v**ed because he thought he might get into trouble, but a doctor pointing out the “bizarre” frequency of them made him open up about it aged 16. As a result, doctors repeatedly told Freddie to stop va**ng and encouraged him to use NHS resources online to help him do so, but he said it was “easier said than done”. He unsuccessfully tried to quit three times, until he woke up on March 30, 2026, before a planned day out with Zoe at Thorpe Park.

Freddie said: “My chest was really tight and my heart… I can only describe it as it felt like it was squeezed. It was really tight."

He took the acid reflux medication omeprazole and heartburn tablets and said he just tried to “crack on” with the day. That evening, Freddie said he realised that the tightness had “not gone away” and it felt like he was “breathing out of a straw” so Zoe drove him to A&E at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

Freddie was triaged and said doctors seemed “very concerned”, so he was admitted for four nights, where he received oxygen. It was during this hospital admission that Freddie said he continued to “sneakily” v**e from his hospital bed. That is, until he spoke to a Stop Smoking nurse on April 2.

Freddie said: “It’s such a serious epidemic that people are aware of, but I don’t think they really understand the scale of it. At that moment, I threw my v**e in the bin… and I had some clarity. I needed to just hit this on the head, so I did.”

The nurse gave Freddie ni****ne gum and patches to help him quit, on top of a doctor prescribing a beclometasone inhaler that works by reducing swelling of the airways in the lungs to make breathing easier and stops symptoms such as wheezing and coughing from developing.

Freddie said he has not “touched” a v**e since and his health has significantly improved and it has been “night and day” since then. He was so thankful of the care he received while in hospital that the night he was discharged, he wrote a song about it called Sacrifice My Soul, under his artist name, fredstar.

Freddie said: “I just left feeling a euphoria of gratefulness. And if I can stop someone from picking up a v**e by sharing my story, then I’m happy.”

Asthma + Lung UK’s helpline is here to support anyone with a lung condition, and their loved ones – get in touch on 0300 222 5800.

✍Steven Smith

12/09/2026

Asthma patients taking the diabetes and weight loss drug semaglutide may see a reduction in asthma attacks, a study suggests.

The link between taking the drugs and asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) flare-ups was stronger among people taking higher doses of semaglutide.

And people with “more pronounced” asthma appeared to benefit more, researchers found.

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the weight loss drug Wegovy and the type 2 diabetes treatment Ozempic.

It is part of a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, also known as GLP-1s, which help to lower blood sugar levels and slow down digestion, helping people stay fuller for longer.

“GLP-1 receptor agonists are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Previous research suggests that they may have anti-inflammatory effects and may improve lung-related outcomes, however, asthma and COPD outcomes have not been included as outcomes in GLP-1 drug trials,” said study lead Professor Chloe Bloom, clinical associate professor in respiratory epidemiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London.

“We wanted to use real-world health records to investigate whether people with asthma or COPD who started GLP-1 receptor agonists had fewer acute respiratory attacks.”

The study, presented to the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona, Spain, examined whether a number of treatments were linked to a reduction in exacerbations. Experts examined UK medical records of tens of thousands of people who started GLP-1s.

Prof Bloom said: “The effect was strongest with semaglutide, especially in people with asthma, where use of semaglutide appears to be associated with nearly 40% reduction in asthma attacks. Semaglutide also led to a 20% reduction in COPD flare-ups.”

She added: “The findings from this study are encouraging, but they should not change treatment decisions on their own. People with asthma or COPD should not start GLP-1 receptor agonists specifically for their lung condition outside current prescribing guidance. While the findings suggest that some people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists may experience fewer respiratory attacks, this needs confirmation in clinical trials.”

Dr Alexander Mathioudakis, chairman of the European Respiratory Society’s Group on Airway Pharmacology and Treatment, said: “This is one of the largest real-world studies to investigate GLP-1 receptor agonists and airways disease, and one of the first to examine whether effects differ between individual GLP-1 receptor agonists.

“It highlights the need to consider metabolic health as part of respiratory care. It also supports the case for including respiratory outcomes, such as asthma attacks and COPD exacerbations, in future trials of metabolic therapies.”

Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “This promising study indicates that people already taking semaglutide for diabetes or obesity experience a significant reduction in asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups. The positive effects of semaglutide were significant for patients with asthma and COPD compared with other GLP-1 agonists but stronger in asthma.

“These exciting findings build on research funded by Asthma + Lung UK, using existing health data to improve our understanding of lung health treatments. For people with asthma living with conditions like diabetes or obesity, this is a promising step forward in helping to treat their lung health.

“Cutting-edge research like this is vital to improve the health and lives of people with lung conditions, but funding for lung health research is on life support. While lung conditions remain the third biggest cause of death in the UK, we need urgent action to boost research investment and improve health outcomes.”

✍Steven Smith

12/09/2026

🌳After a very hot and dry summer, gardens across the UK will start flourishing again now that rain has returned.

👉But with this comes a common annoyance many UK homeowners face: a neighbour's overgrown tree or hedge creeping over the boundary and into your garden.

If you are dealing with unruly branches or hedges, there are certain steps you are legally allowed to take to tackle the issue, as well as actions you should completely avoid. Knowing what you can and can't do, including the rules you need to follow, can not only help avoid a neighbour dispute, but also possible legal trouble.

What are your legal rights to cut a neighbour's overgrown hedge or tree?
Under UK law, you have the right to trim back overhanging branches or roots that cross into your property. However, you must stop exactly at the boundary line. Going further or cutting too much could make you liable for property damage.

Andrew Boast, founder of SAM Conveyancing, explains: "You are legally entitled to cut back anything crossing the boundary onto your side under the common law right of abatement, but you must stop exactly at the boundary line. Step into their garden or lean a ladder over the boundary to reach further, and you are committing trespass, even if your feet never touch their soil."

He stressed: "To avoid a neighbour dispute, you should speak to your neighbour, inform them of the issue, and reasonably come to a solution together. Remember, any dispute you have with your neighbour must be reported to any future buyer when you come to sell, and this could affect the value of the property, or its saleability."

Saga's head of home insurance, Anna Thunstrom, also urges people to be careful to ensure the tree remains healthy. Anna says: "While cutting branches or roots that cross over into your property is legal, it's important that any damage caused to your neighbour's tree is minimal and will not affect the health of the tree.

"If you've caused any damage to your neighbour's tree and it becomes diseased, unbalanced or dies, then your actions would be considered legally negligent, and you may find yourself faced with a fine or charged with the cost of replacing the tree. I would suggest consulting with a tree surgeon who is a member of a professional body, such as the Arboricultural Association or the International Society of Arboriculture, before undertaking any action on a neighbour's tree."

You also cannot step onto your neighbour's land, or even lean over the fence, without permission, as this constitutes trespass. Before you pick up the shears, check whether the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or is in a conservation area, which requires council consent to work on.

Can I keep fruit fallen from my neighbour's tree in my garden?
Any cuttings or fruit you remove still belong to your neighbour. Picking up fallen fruit from your neighbour's tree and keeping it could be classed as theft. You should politely offer them back rather than throwing them over the fence, which can be classed as fly-tipping.

Andrew Boast said: "Remember that whatever you prune off still belongs to your neighbour. Throwing trimmings back over the fence without asking can amount to fly-tipping or a statutory nuisance, so you must always offer the cuttings back first."

What are your rights if a neighbour's hedge or tree is blocking sunlight?
If a neighbour's evergreen hedge is over two metres tall and blocking light, you can ask your local council to step in. However, the council will most likely expect you to try talking to your neighbour first.

Andrew Boast added: "For a genuinely tall hedge, the relevant law is Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. It only covers a specific criterion: a line of two or more predominantly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs, over two metres in height, acting as a barrier to light or reasonable access.

"Local councils treat a formal complaint strictly as a last resort, and you must provide a paper trail of letters or logs showing you have tried to resolve the dispute amicably. If the council agrees, they will issue a formal Remedial Notice specifying the height the hedge must be maintained at, though by law they cannot order it to be cut below two metres or removed entirely."

Can I be fined for cutting a neighbour's tree without permission?
Anna warns that the cost of tree damage could be steep. She says: "If you unlawfully damage or cut down a neighbour's tree without permission, you could face criminal charges and prosecution. The penalties depend on the circumstances, including ownership, intent, and the tree's value.

"In cases where the damage is valued at over £5,000, proceedings may be heard in the Crown Court, where fines can be unlimited. In addition to criminal consequences, the perpetrator may face civil liability for trespass and damage. The tree's owner could seek compensation for its value, replacement costs, and loss of amenity, which includes reduced privacy.

"Certain trees in the UK are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or by being in conservation areas, meaning you'll need to seek permission to cut any branches back from them. Cutting down protected trees can carry a fine of up to £20,000 per tree in a Magistrates' Court, and you’re also normally required to replant them.

"Even unauthorised topping or lopping of the trees could result in a £2,500 fine. If the case is sent to the Crown Court, fines are unlimited. This means that checking the status of the tree before you act could prevent you from receiving a hefty fine and a criminal record."

✍Charlotte Smith

11/09/2026

The Government has halted plans to reform how local councils work in Suffolk – here’s what that means to you.

County, district and borough councils were due to be scrapped and replaced by three unitaries with more powers, with elections for these new bodies to take place in May.

Angela Rayner, the local government secretary, announced on Monday these plans would be withdrawn – alongside similar schemes in Norfolk, Essex and Hampshire – and reviewed.

The reforms would have fundamentally changed how local councils operated in Suffolk, including upcoming elections, services and tax.

The ongoing legal challenge

The Government’s decision followed judicial reviews launched by some of the councils involved, including Suffolk County Council, opposing the reforms.

Cllr Michael Hadwen, the county’s leader, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the Government would not contest the authority’s legal challenge.

The judicial review will continue through the legal process, with the council confident it will be successful and recoup most of its legal costs.

What happens to council reforms?

The Government officially announced a review of the reforms and suspended any work associated with them, but did not quite pull the plug altogether.

Addressing a question from Jack Abbott, the MP for Ipswich, earlier this week, Angela Rayner said the Labour Government was ‘not moving back’ from the reforms.

According to Cllr Hadwen, Government officials said in briefings the reviews would last a few months, but did not confirm when new arrangements would be revealed.

He suggested we may not see updated plans until the next General Election, expected in August 2029, but promised to engage when they come forward.

“If [the Government] demand that we have to go into a unitary system, well then let’s look at that and see what the best solution would be,” he said.

“At the end of the day, whatever happens in Suffolk, I want the people consulted, I want the stakeholders consulted, and I want a proper and fair process.”

What about local elections?

As part of the reforms, elections for so-called shadow authorities were scheduled to take place next year.

With the plans paused, these elections have been cancelled.

But residents will still be asked to take to the polls in May, as elections are still going ahead for the existing councils.

This will include West Suffolk, Mid Suffolk, East Suffolk and Babergh district councils, all of which will elect an entirely new cohort of councillors.

Ipswich Borough Council will also hold elections, but only for a third of its seats.

Why these changes matter

Aside from impacting elections, the reforms would have affected every aspect of how a council operates.

The plans were forecast to deliver £106 million in total savings in the first five years and £34 million each year thereafter.

Once the cost of transitioning current services was factored in, savings are projected at £14 million each year.

Although Cllr Hadwen described the Government’s decision to pause reforms as ‘complete vindication’, he will now have to ensure his council’s finances are up to scratch and the services it delivers are adequate.

Services themselves would have faced significant changes, as things historically split between different councils would all be brought under the same roof.

With the plans paused, they will continue to operate as they have until now, with different councils often picking up services at different stages such as recycling.

Council Tax levels would have been equalised across all three unitary authorities, with increases of anywhere between 53p and £1.78 depending on location.

This will no longer be necessary, and any hikes will be implemented as they have previously by the respective councils.

✍Original copy by Joao Santos, Local Democracy Reporter

11/09/2026

A barefoot forager who talks to trees and eats “wild food” sourced from forests and the streets of Brighton every day, including weeds, stinging nettles and pine needles, has become a viral sensation.

Leo Utton, 35, a nature educator living in Brighton, developed an interest in plants in 2023, beginning to study them on walks around the city.

After months of observation, he began foraging barefoot, gathering mushrooms, stinging nettles, wild flowers, berries and leafy greens.

He eats foraged food every day, even including acorns ground into flour for pancakes.

He now has “hundreds” of jars of homemade foods in his kitchen, including cherry plum hot sauce, pine needle syrup, tapenades and dried mushrooms, while making his own fermented “wild sodas” from foraged plants, yeast, sugar and water.

Leo shares his foraging on TikTok and Instagram under the handle , with some of his videos gaining almost two million views.

Leo told PA Real Life: “I’m obsessed with nature, a stinging nettle on the street corner is as exciting as a mushroom deep in the woods for me.

“Sometimes I will just say hello to a tree because I think we’re all connected.

“Going barefoot makes me feel even closer to nature.”

Leo believes “everyone is born with an innate feeling towards the natural world” and said he was fascinated by the outdoors from around age five.

He went on to become a guitarist in a band before, in adulthood, developing an “intense” interest in plants.

“I felt like I had a moral responsibility to learn and identify different plants and I wanted to understand how environmental damage was happening at a fundamental level,” he said.

In 2023, living in a city and without a car, Leo began walking from his home to a local park, studying plants in people’s gardens along the way and trying to identify different species.

“Wild carrots are a fun one – there’s a plant that grows out of the cracks in the pavement and it’s the wild ancestor of the carrots we buy,” he said.

“People consider them weeds, but it has actually shaped what the supermarket even has in it.”

He would then take the train to woods in Sussex, which became his “learning places”.

After learning about what he could eat in the “natural world”, he began foraging himself.

While in the woods, Leo would forage barefoot and speak to trees to feel “even closer to nature” and said it also helped improve his mood.

He added: “I don’t go barefoot in the city or on concrete, I’d end up standing in glass or on a needle – I draw my line at going barefoot in the pub!

“I would go barefoot as a kid and then never really stopped when I was in nature.”

Mushroom foraging is what fascinates him most, as finding them often requires him to “learn about host trees”.

“The facts are interesting – there’s mushroom spores in every breath we’re breathing,” he explained.

“They come in so many different shapes and sizes – I’ve foraged a huge chicken of the woods and last year I found a rare purple mushroom called a violet webcap, that was really exciting.”

In spring, he mainly forages “fresh nutritious greens”, including dandelions and stinging nettles.

During summer, he picks fruits, pine needles and edible flowers, often using them to make wild sodas.

“I cover them with yeast, sugar and a bit of water and leave it, and you end up with a fermented natural soda, it’s delicious,” he said.

Leo said he eats “wild food” every day, while still buying some supermarket staples such as tinned coconut milk.

When shopping for food, he tries to focus on buying organic, locally grown produce, sometimes with a higher price tag.

Leo added: “I always make my own teas and drinks, and I have a lot of mushroom on toast for breakfast, yoghurt with foraged fruits like blackberries, cherry plums and mulberries.

“For lunch and dinner I make a lot of stir fries and curries – there’s a group of plants called the goosefoots which are like a green leafy vegetable, I use all the new ingredients in a familiar way.

“I chuck wild garlic into everything too.

“I’ve taken it one step further and foraged seeds and acorns and ground them down to make flour, to make pancakes.”

His kitchen cupboards are packed with “hundreds” of jars containing homemade foods, including cherry plum hot sauce, tapenades, syrups and dried herbs and mushrooms.

Since embracing foraging, Leo believes his “body and mind work loads better”.

“There’s a slight amount of bitterness in some wild foods and you have to use your jaw more to chew things if they’re a bit tougher – I think we’re not used to this after having processed foods and things,” he said.

“We need to go outside and spend time in nature. If I’m stressed, if I’m sad, I go to the woods or even a park and it helps.”

In his job as a nature educator, Leo runs workshops teaching people how to forage, while explaining the historical and scientific context behind the plants they find.

At the end of each session, he then teaches participants how to cook and ferment what they have foraged.

However, Leo believes there are still misconceptions about foraging.

“Foragers can get a bad rep sometimes because people think we are coming to the land and ravaging it, taking everything you find, and encouraging other people to do the same,” he explained.

“But we care for the land deeply, so we’re out there educating people on how to maintain a good relationship with it, rather than taking everything you can.”

To help educate even more people, Leo created Instagram and TikTok accounts under the handle in 2025, sharing his foraging knowledge and discoveries.

He now has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and more than 31,000 on TikTok, with some of his videos gaining almost two million views.

“I’ve found a community there – foraging can be quite solitary,” Leo said.

“So to have a large number of people, in one digital place, who share some similar values is very rewarding.”

Looking ahead, Leo hopes to run more foraging workshops and continue learning about the “earth around him”.

To anyone wanting to try foraging, he said: “Get reading and give it a go, you won’t regret it.”

✍Molly Powell

Suffolk Live

12/09/2026

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