Reserve ban on mushroom picking

[Stewy]

BBC NEWS | Wales | Mid Wales | Reserve ban on mushroom picking

A nature reserve in mid Wales is banning all visitors from picking wild mushrooms because it says some species are in decline.

[Fungus Ken]

Personally I think it is legitimate to ban commercial picking of mushrooms on nature reserves and other sensitive sites, as a precaution. Commercial picking can continue on other less sensitive sites with the agreement of the landowner.

I completely disagree, however, with the comment that it is possible to study the fungi of the site without collecting them. It's complete nonsense. Many species cannot be identified without taking them back for further scientific study.

If you take things to such extremes, you should probably also ban people from entering a nature reserve for fear of damaging the mycelium underground as a result of people walking on it and compacting the soil. However, I think that allowing people access to nature reserves is an important principle and essential in raising people's understanding of nature and encouraging their support for nature conservation and enhancement. You can allow controlled access in creative ways to ensure that sensitive areas are not damaged.

Ken

[Fungalpunk]

The thought of trying to ID fungi without even picking them is terrifying. Its bad enough when you can get a good look at them and cut, squeeze, taste etc.

I can understand bans on special areas and in some ways I feel that if forays were led on a rotational basis so as to give an area one year to just get on with things the result may of bigger crops the following season.


I have read though that when picking fungi that once you have made a positive ID and no longer need the specimen that if you spread the fertile surface in approprite areas you are helping distribute spores. In fact even if you have caps face down in an open-weave basket the spores are being distributed.


Worth a thought!