Fun with Fungi

Time of Year

Fun with Fungi October 2nd is UK Fungus Day

At this time of year in the UK wild mushrooms are in plentiful supply and many varieties are much tastier than those you can buy in a supermarket. It’s tempting to pick them, but you need to exercise caution. Some mushrooms can be deadly, and others, while they may not kill you can cause a seriously upset tum, so unless you’re an expert, in which case you need no advice from me, the best and most fun way to learn about and pick your own mushrooms is to go on a specialist foraging course. Some species of mushrooms do grow all year around, but September to November is generally the best time for foraging, and the day or so after period of rain can be especially rewarding. Different species prefer different habitats. Some like open fields, others, the woodland floor, or on tree bark. You don’t need any specialist equipment for mushroom foraging, just a sharp knife, a container or basket, and clothes you can get a bit dirty. It’s a good idea to have a smaller lidded container in which you can keep any mushrooms you’re not sure about until they can be properly identified. And don’t forget hand wipes or sanitiser so you don’t risk accidental contamination or skin irritation. When it comes to identifying any mushrooms that you find, deferring to an expert is your best bet. If you go alone you’ll need a good reference book, and a magnifying lens. Identification relies on the shape of the cap, the colour, texture, gills, stem, and habitat. Some mushrooms are fairly easy to identify, others less so. If in any doubt, don’t risk it! In the UK, we have about 4500 species. Of these, around 200 are edible, and 50 are poisonous. The rest are inedible or tasteless. Most mushroom poisonings are not fatal. One of the safest mushrooms for beginner foragers is the giant puffball, as it’s pretty easy to identify. The clue is in the name, as the giant puffball resembles a foot wide ball. Young Puffballs in the edible stage have undifferentiated white flesh within. Hedgehog fungus is also quite easy to identify, as it has hedgehog like white spikes underneath the cap. Remember, until you are confident, the safest way to forage is with an expert.

Useful sites

https://www.ukfungusday.co.uk https://www.wildfooduk.com Wild Food UK organise foraging events and courses across the country: www.mushroomdiary.co.uk Everything you ever wanted to know about mushrooms, including the laws around picking them. www.abfg.org The Fungus Conservation Trust site has even more mushroomy info.

By Tracey Anderson