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Forest Plea: Click, Don't Pick Wild Fungi
28 Aug
Summary
- Visitors urged to photograph wild mushrooms, not collect them.
- Picking fungi is prohibited by Epping Forest bylaws.
- Forest supports over 1,500 fungi species, including rare ones.
Epping Forest, a vast ancient woodland managed by the City of London Corporation, is issuing a simple yet urgent plea to its visitors: "click, don't pick." With a surge in online fungi content, the corporation is reminding the public that picking wild mushrooms is strictly prohibited by forest bylaws. This conservation effort is vital as recent warm weather has encouraged the early growth of various fungi species.
The forest, stretching 13 miles from East London into Essex, is a sanctuary for an exceptional diversity of fungal life. It is home to over 1,500 species, including hundreds of rare and endangered fungi that rely on its ancient pollarded trees and deadwood habitats. The corporation encourages visitors to document the fungi through photography instead of collecting them, thereby helping to preserve these delicate ecosystems for the future.
