Fungi Forays

It might not be fungal, but this tasty plant is emerging now and is one of the commonest garden 'weeds' . . .

Hairy bittercress — Fungi Forays Hairy bittercress fails to live up to its name - it is a delicious early season green salad-enhancer.

While most of us wait for the mushrooms to arrive, here's a form of foraging anyone can do in the comfort of their own home . . .

Sourdough: Indoor foraging — Fungi Forays It is possible to forage wild fungi from home, even if you live on the top floor of an inner city towerblock.

I've just produced my first blog of the year to celebrate the start of the 2026 mushroom season. Also, if you check out the courses on my website, you'll see that I'm adding a new course this year in conjunction with the incredibly knowledgeable Natalia Joanna.

The 2026 season begins! — Fungi Forays Morels mark the beginning of the 2026 fungal season, emerging in early spring on alkaline soils, woodland and bark mulches.

I've just revamped my autumn schedule for anyone interested - although those from foreign climes be warned, it is based around Mid-Wales in western Britain.

Fungi Foraging Courses — Fungi Forays Book a group or private workshop to learn how to safely identify and forage for mushrooms in Mid-Wales. Lunch Included.

If anyone wants to see a series of blogs on wild mushroom foraging, visit my webpage, www.fungiforays.co.uk. It is UK-oriented, but mushrooms are ubiquitous, so many observations would apply around the globe. In particular I would point British and Irish followers to look up the first five blogs on foraging law. There are also observations on toxicity, cultural attitudes to fungi and truffles.

Fungi Forays

Late winter is just about the quietest time of the year when it comes to fungi forays, but there are quite a lot of the colourful (but fairly tasteless) scarlet elfcaps to be found and those living on alkaline soils could soon be finding morels.

If anyone is struggling with Christmas present ideas, I can supply personalised foray vouchers for next year. An all-day session, which includes a gentle three-hour morning foray, followed by a leisurely mushroom-based meal with preserving and tasting sessions costs £80 per adult (big reductions for children depending on age). Alternatively, I can do bespoke forays-only based on £50 per hour (two hours minimum), but numbers are immaterial, so could be perfect for families and friends. To find out more visit fungiforays.co.uk, e-mail [email protected] or phone 07794 294221.

New mushroom blog which overlaps my last, but contains new information and pictures:

Death Caps — Fungi Forays Death caps are very much in the news at the moment - but how deadly are they?

Mushroom poisonings are very much in the news at the moment. My latest blog looks at 'toadstool' realities

Toxicity — Fungi Forays Mushroom poisoning is very much in the news at the moment. This blog is a look at the toadstool facts.

Another blog - this time devoted to the magical fly agaric . . .

Fly Agaric — Fungi Forays The appearance of fly agaric should make every forager's pulse beat faster . . .

The question that recurs every year - what makes a great season?

What makes a mushroom season? — Fungi Forays Will this be a bumper year? What makes a great mushroom season?