Epping Forest Urges 8,000-Acre Visitors to Click, Not Pick Fungi as Social Media Posts Spur Foraging
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 30
Epping Forest Urges 8,000-Acre Visitors to Click, Not Pick Fungi as Social Media Posts Spur Foraging
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 30
Summary
Epping Forest officials told visitors to "click, don't pick," warning that collecting wild mushrooms is banned and can lead to fines or prosecution.
Social media posts showing fungi being gathered are encouraging copycat foraging, Caroline Haines said, adding that removing mushrooms disrupts nutrient recycling and harms wildlife.
The 8,000-acre Essex forest is one of Britain's key fungi habitats, with species left undisturbed helping sustain about 55,000 ancient trees.
The warning comes after notable finds in the area, including the UK's first confirmed record of rare fungus Russula blumiana in Epping Forest in 2025.