For Those In The Know,

the best time to pick wild mushrooms, 

is now, September, photograph Yvette Woodhouse, but there is a problem, people are taking way too many of them, and then selling them, the East London Epping forest is a renowned nature reserve and has over 4.5 million visitors a year. It also boasts 1,000-year-old trees and is a site of special scientific interest, but the problem of picking mushrooms for profit could apply to almost any area of woodlands, this is one of 11,000 acres of green space across the capital that the City of London looks after, Epping Forest chairman Graeme Doshi-Smith said: “We are urging people not to pick mushrooms in any quantity, their irresponsible actions are damaging the green lungs of London and spoiling the enjoyment of visitors, our job is to protect the future of this ancient woodland which is of national and international conservation importance, We will not tolerate criminal activity in Epping Forest and we will take swift action against anyone damaging wildlife and threatening rare species.” but here is the thing, which mushrooms are safe to eat and which are not?

which brings me nicely on to this book, Atlas des Champignons. Comestibles et Vénéneux. Ouvrage contenant la description de toutes les espèces comestibles et vénéneuses de la France. 686 Dessins en couleurs. 3e Edition revue et augmentée, or to give it it's translated title, Mushroom Atlas. Edible and Poisonous. Book containing the description of all the edible and poisonous species of France. 686 Colour drawings. 3rd Edition revised and expanded by J. Costantin, Yours for just £30.62 for this used copy, plus shipping £9.55 from Switzerland to United Kingdom, from Abe Books, 

admittedly the species are native to France, but many of course are found in the UK as well, if you really are in to fungi to eat, here is the group for you, 

photograph London Fungus Network a group which runs group walks in the woodlands to discover new species, Mike Green is a volunteer ranger with the London national park city project - a project to inspire people to get out more in London - and founder of London Fungus Network, Mike, who lives in Waltham Forest and didn’t want to reveal his age, launched the LFN last summer in 2020 as a way of helping Londoners to connect with the urban fungal kingdom, from the groups web site: 

'Learning about and celebrating the humble fungus has inspired us to slow down our busy pace of life and to reconnect with nature – and ourselves, We want to share our love of mushrooms and inspire others along their fungal journeys. Join us to get to know your fungal neighbours, learning about and celebrating the humble fungus has inspired us to slow down our busy pace of life and to reconnect with nature – and ourselves, We want to share our love of mushrooms and inspire others along their fungal journeys. Join us to get to know your fungal neighbours'.

sounds like fun, just do not pick too many, and be carful what you pick!