Epping Forest, Hatfield Forest

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by Leif

And lastly, is the New Forest still poor? I was there at the weekend (Denys Wood) and it was pants. Still, it was a beautiful walk, says he trying desperately to convince himself that the drive down was worthwhile.

Thanks.

Hi Leif. There's a bit more out on the Forest, but whether its poor depends on what your seeing in the rest of the country.

As you say, there's no commercial picking allowed (save one woman), but you can take 1.5 kilos of mushrooms per person, per day for personal consumption, except in two woods, Whitley Wood & Vinney Ridge, where there is a ban on picking.

[Paul mabbott]

I suspect that you are right - as long as picking is minimal (rather than commercial) then it is hardly likely to make fungi extinct but we should always bear in mind why there are no bluebells in Epping Forest nowadays ....

My larger concern would be what damage might be done to the general habitat (the denizens of the leaf litter, for instance) by people trampling all over it regularly?

Originally Posted by Leif

.......... I don't think fungus picking causes damage, at least not according to the studies I have seen. Fungus picking has gone on for centuries if not much longer in mainland Europe with no apparent harm, except to the pickers. However, as you say picking is banned in many places, including Burnham Beeches, and the New Forest bans commercial picking.

However, I tend not to pick any more than the minimum for an id. I am not even that keen on eating fungi. I could have picked a shed load of Chanterelles today, but left them.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Leif

Yup. Two large grey wolves on leads. I think the Wolf Conservation Trust were doing a display and talk in a wood, and took along two mutts.

Cheers for the info.

Wish I'd have seen that one.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I suspect that you are right - as long as picking is minimal (rather than commercial) then it is hardly likely to make fungi extinct but we should always bear in mind why there are no bluebells in Epping Forest nowadays ....

My larger concern would be what damage might be done to the general habitat (the denizens of the leaf litter, for instance) by people trampling all over it regularly?

Bluebells will have disappeared due to people taking the bulbs. Fungi are the fruiting bodies of organisms that are largely within the substrate, be that soil or wood (or an insect for that matter). Consequently when you find one, chances are that it is mature, and has already had a chance to spread huge numbers of spores. That is why many people say not to pick young ones. However, this subject is I think still contentious. The New Forest closes areas to picking and I am told this is to conserve species. I am not up on the latest research, so I might be misleading you.

I think you hit the nail on the head when referring to damage to habitat. Many fungi are rare due to removal of habitat, be that unimproved grassland, or ancient woodland.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Hi Leif. There's a bit more out on the Forest, but whether its poor depends on what your seeing in the rest of the country.

As you say, there's no commercial picking allowed (save one woman), but you can take 1.5 kilos of mushrooms per person, per day for personal consumption, except in two woods, Whitley Wood & Vinney Ridge, where there is a ban on picking.

Thanks. Any Cortinarius and the like about? Mostly it is common wood munchers in these parts. I saw some Rhodotus palmatus today which was nice.

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by Leif

Thanks. Any Cortinarius and the like about? Mostly it is common wood munchers in these parts. I saw some Rhodotus palmatus today which was nice.

Nah, can't say Iv'e seen many Cortinarius.

[Leif]

In case anyone is interested, there is not much about in Epping Forest at the moment, apart from Collybia butyracea and Clitocybe nebularis.