It has been another dreary wet summer which has no doubt put a damper on many summer activities for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. But there is an upside to this wet end to the summer - plenty of mushrooms! Whether you simply admire them on an autumn woodland walk or plan to make delicious dishes from this wild resource, this time of year is great for mushroom hunting.
Mushrooms have long been an important part of our diet and folklore in Britain. They are the fruiting bodies of fungi, reproductive organs which rise above ground to release spores spreading the fungi to new areas. Although the underground structures of fungi (mycelia) are microscopic, they make up a far greater proportion of the total fungus weight. A small patch of mushrooms weighing less than a kilo can have an underground mycelial system spreading tens of metres and weighing hundreds of kilos. While commonly grouped with plants, fungi are in fact more closely related to animals!
Anyone can collect mushrooms from the wild providing they obtain permission from the landowner and follow a few simple guidelines. For example mushrooms collected should only be for your own purposes (not commercial) and no more than 1.5kg should be picked of one species in an area in a day. The full guidelines are provided by English Nature . You need little equipment for mushrooming but an essential outlay is at least one good identification guide.
There are several species of mushrooms in the UK that at first glance look like one of the many edible types but are in fact poisonous. Other species are fine to be eaten but can cause mild or even severe poisoning symptoms if taken with alcohol. So a good identification guide is a must. There are many available now geared towards the amateur mushroom hunter with collection tips, recipes, and commonly mistaken poisonous species laid out next to edible species. But these tend to only cover species of interest for food. There are also more comprehensive field guides for those wishing to identify any species edible or otherwise.
There is little else needed to get out there and start hunting for mushrooms. A pocket penknife is very useful; one with a curved blade is best for mushrooming. Cutting off a mushroom is better than simply pulling them up as this will limit the damage to the delicate underground mycelial system. An open-weave basket is good for collecting for cooking – plastic bags soon cause the mushrooms to sweat and rot quickly. The open-weave also help the fungi themselves as you will disperse spores as you walk along. A sturdy walking stick is favoured by seasoned hunters to push aside leaf litter and undergrowth to find mushrooms, plus it can be used to steady yourself on unstable ground. Those collecting scientific specimens ought to carry disposable gloves for handling poisonous or any unidentified species. Individual sample pots can be useful to keep specimens separate and undamaged for later identification.
If the idea of getting started by yourself is a bit daunting there are other ways to enjoy mushroom forays without relying solely on your own knowledge. Many local wildlife/nature/botany groups run mushroom walks at this time of year. This allows you to be guided by an expert in your area and get some hands on experience before setting out on your own. There is also now a growing number of mushroom holidays – short breaks in some the best parts of Britain and Europe specifically designed to find the best fungi in that area. So go truffle hunting in Tuscany or simply find a tasty treat in your local woods!
