20/05/2009

Wild Mushrooms - The dangers

Do not - I repeat - do NOT pick any mushrooms just because they happen to look edible. Mushrooming is a rewarding and delicious activity, but requires some serious research, and if at all possible, mentorship. There are many many different types of edible mushrooms that can be found on lawns, fields and forests but you really have to know what you're doing when you pick them. Many look alike or similar and unless you have taken the time to learn about the edible mushrooms that grow in your neck of the woods, you can easily confuse poisonous with edible.

There is no simple formula to figure out which mushrooms are safe to eat - each species has to be examined closely for all its characteristics for a reliable identification.

Having said that, I've been an avid mushroomer for probably 30 years. There are some species that I pick without any hesitation because they're either so distinctive that they can't be confused with anything else, or because I have taken the time to learn how to identify a specific variety.

My suggestion, if you have a real interest in this, is to a) get a good book; b) take a course or workshop on amateur mycology; and c) find a friend who can help you identify mushrooms when you first go out picking.

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Highland Holiday Cottage

Highland Holiday Cottage
Great base for exploring the National Park