East Sussex Fungi Group

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by chanty

Neil's a bit sarcastic; commander of the wild empire too bright to be polite. NB: I have a will.

I think you'll find that the undertone of Neil's post was that cooking things such as tongues that you find and have no clue about, is not a good idea

Proper identification as in 100% Identification should be achieved before even considering going further. This I'm sure you know and all but it's certainly not wise posting that sort of thing on a public forum where it can be read an influence people.

Don't be annoyed, it's actually very wise advice, and Neil certainly knows what he's talking about!

[Geoff23]

Originally Posted by chanty

I do lots of research but was unable to get a picture of False Chanterelle.

Go to google images and type in "false chanterelle".

And in order to make sure nobody gets the wrong impression: you shouldn't even have got to the stage of cooking these if you don't know the difference between a chanterelle and a false chanterelle.

[solus]

Originally Posted by flaxton

Unfortunately (for you) the vast majority of members of WAB would agree with Neils views on edibility/identification.

Mal

Much the same as I posted on this thread:
identify bolete
Post 9

To cook something with a view to eating it but without knowing exactly, 100%, what it is strikes me as the height of irresponsibility ...

[Geoff23]

Originally Posted by solus

Much the same as I posted on this thread:
identify bolete
Post 9

To cook something with a view to eating it but without knowing exactly, 100%, what it is strikes me as the height of irresponsibility ...

Could I rephrase that? I don't think you have to know 100% exactly what it is. I think you have to know 100% that it isn't going to kill you. There are numerous Russulas (and boletes) I could eat perfectly safely without being 100% certain what it is. What matters is that I am 100% certain what it isn't. If it's a Russula and it isn't red, then it's not going to do me much harm.

[gleditsa]

Originally Posted by Geoff23

Go to google images and type in "false chanterelle".

And in order to make sure nobody gets the wrong impression: you shouldn't even have got to the stage of cooking these if you don't know the difference between a chanterelle and a false chanterelle.

That is exactly the problem here, a beginner might find the false chantrelle and think it is the real chantrelle,
as you will know yourself, a beginner will not have the necessary knowledge, experience and "feel" for the real thing, to be 100% sure of its id,
and as you should also know that even the experts can get it wrong, occasionally,

and i don't think Chanty should be eating any wild fungi until he/she can identify them with 101% certainty,

Neils reply may sound sarcastic to some, but at the end of the day, its sound advice,

j.

[Mike Jackson]

Although, according to Roger Phillips, Russula betularam (Birch Brittlegill), which isn't red (pink but can be yellow). is poisonous.

[chanty]

That's me told!

[fairplay]

Hi Chanty,

I may have been a bit harsh on you, but I feel to first of all pick something you do not know (it could be something extremely rare like Polyporus umbellatus or Sparasis lamilosa) and then to cook it with the obvious intention of eating it, is at the upper range of risky foraging.

This is my biggest fear, the collection of a rare species that will go unrecorded.

Yesterday, I found a clump of Oyster fungi in perfect condition, there were several large clumps all the way up the tree. I knew them well, as they are very common, removed the middle clump and had them on toast for lunch.
This is what I would call responsible collecting, it is when people take almost everything they see, try to ID it at home, take a silly risk, or throw it away because it tasted awful or else they failed to ID it.

Either way, it is unnecessarily depriving the wood and it's wildlife of it's natural resources and for people who study fungi.
Please only collect what you know and then only enough for your immediate needs, that way we can all be happy.

Neil.

[Michael Jordan]

Having noticed the title of this thread and then perused the posts with interest (and occasionally a twinge of horror), to return to Leek's original message, there is now an established ABFG Sussex group, operating predominantly in West Sussex but with an increasing number of East Sussex members.

The Association puts considerable investment into its new groups and also extends cover for Public Liability insurance (mandatory now for an awful lot of woodlands), so we ask new recruits to become ABFG members, which helps support the charity.

The members of the Sussex group are ordinary folk with an interest, basic and otherwise, in fungi, but the group leader is an experienced field mycologist and members are in safe hands. The downside for you, perhaps, is that it is not a 'foraging' group as such. Edibility is somewhat down the list although if edibles turn up, we are not averse to taking them home for tea. If you join an ABFG group you learn to recognise fungi as fungi! That way you help their conservation, one of the ABFG's main roles in life, and probably stay alive a wee bit longer.

Michael Jordan
CEO Association of British Fungus Groups

[cubensis]

I have tried finding east sussex fungi group on facebook with no success, is it still available? I'm from Hastings and would love to join. Could you email me with details at keiran1066@gmail.com