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Despite the wintry conditions in Bristol this week, wild garlic collectors are searching for this simple herb. It’s been springing up since February and Arnos Vale Cemetery is a popular place to gather it.

Adds a fresh touch to foods like stews, stir-fries, soups or pastas when mixed just before serving. And then there’s the classic wild garlic pesto, or you can dry the leaves, crush and add to the salt for your own garlic salt – the flavor lasts for years.

Wild garlic collectors will tell you that the strong odor is the way to identify this simple herb. It is also how to avoid getting caught by similar herbs, lily of the valley and lords and ladies, which are poisonous.

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María Fernández, a Bristol-based forager and herbalist who leads collecting walks for wild medicinal and edible plants, said the first sprouts of wild garlic began to appear in February and can be seen in damp soil. She said: “As the months go by, the leaves get larger and the wild garlic creeps further into drier territory and can fill entire riverbanks and forests.”

The best time to find the leaves is between March and April, while April to May are the best months to collect the flowers and seeds. At Arnos Vale Cemetery, Maria told her to watch out for the shady areas. She said: “Once the spread of the plant starts creeping up the slopes, you’ll find so many leaves along the shady paths and between the graves.”

He added that the popular herb grows “in any damp place or near a river” and in the case of the cemetery, it is near the River Avon. “Bristol is full of green spaces that are close to rivers, so we get a lot of wild garlic at this time of year,” she added.

The herb is famous for its smell, and whether it’s the leaves, flowers or seeds, Maria described it as “like cutting up a fresh clove of garlic.” The smell is particularly pungent on a hot summer’s day, but she cautioned: “If you can’t smell this familiar smell, don’t pick the plant, as there are some that look very toxic. However, none of these toxic look-alikes smell like garlic, so this is a key identifier.”

Maria said these include Lily-of-the-Valley and Lords-and-Ladies “who love to grow close and in between.” She advised only picking one wild garlic leaf at a time, as this not only gives her time to make sure she’s picking the right herb, but it “gives a little gratitude that she’s picking a live plant.”

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He added: “When calculating how much to take, always take less than you think. I think a good rule of thumb is to make it look like no one has been there when you leave. Avoid impatience by taking only one sheet at a time, there is no need to cut a whole section like you are mowing grass, take your time.”

As an herbalist, Maria said that anything spicy, such as garlic, chili and ginger, can stimulate circulation, as well as help strengthen the immune system. She said: “These are good for general healing and cell regeneration. Wild garlic leaves have anti-inflammatory effects and can help at the first signs of a coming cold.”

Wild garlic is generally found near rivers and other abundant locations in and around Bristol, including Conham River Park, Eastville Park, St Anne’s Wood, and Nightingale Valley. All of these areas have rivers running through or near them.

Arnos Vale Cemetery is a haven for wildlife and is the breeding habitat for several species with a varied environment, from woodland to open meadows. It is known as a haven for many migratory birds during the winter that feed on the berry bushes and spring brings carpets of bluebells and primroses.

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