Conservation

Fungus conservation is nowhere near as advanced (nor is is as commonly practised) as botanical conservation; however, some simple guidelines will help ensure that most of the fungi that you find are available for others to enjoy and as food or habitat for the insects and other animals that feed upn them or in some cases live within them!

  1. Look before you leap - many beautiful fungi nestle in among the grass or in forest leaf litter, and they can easily be damaged or destroyed by trampling feet
  2. Take photographs rather than specimens home except when you need specimens for study and identification or are collecting wild mushrooms that you intend to eat
  3. Collect only those edible fungi you have identified with certainty
  4. Pick only sufficient common edible mushrooms for your own needs
  5. Do not disturb leaf litter in the search for immature fungi, or you are likely to destroy many immature specimens and perhaps kill their mycelium as well as plants and other creatures that share the same habitat
  6. Be aware that some very rare fungus species are protected by law and must not be picked or their habitat disturbed

Where on earth can you tread safely?

A carpet of woodland fungiWhether careless trampling puts common species at risk is doubtful, but one thing is certain: a trampled immature mushroom will not develop to brighten the countryside and give joy to other walkers. On that basis alone it is surely important to tread carefully.