Foragers warned over social media craze for picking wild mushrooms

A surge in social media videos showing influencers picking wild mushrooms is putting Epping Forest’s ecosystem at risk, experts have warned.

The trend involves creators posting videos of themselves collecting rare and edible wild mushrooms, which can attract large numbers of views online.

This year’s unusually warm weather has triggered an early appearance of sought-after species like "Chicken of the Woods" (Laetiporus sulphureus). The early bloom is said to have sparked a wave of visitors attempting to replicate viral foraging finds on camera.

However, Epping Forest, an ancient 8,000-acre woodland stretching from Manor Park to Essex, is now apparently facing severe disruption from this influx.

While picking wild fungi in Epping Forest is strictly prohibited under local by-laws, it has not prevented amateur foragers from risking steep fines or criminal prosecution. Beyond legal penalties, officials warn that consuming unidentified wild mushrooms poses severe poisoning risks.

Caroline Haines, chair of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, stressed that rare species require total protection to survive.

"Epping Forest is one of the country's most important habitats for fungi, and many species depend on being left undisturbed," Haines said.

"We know people are fascinated by mushrooms and want to share their discoveries online," she added. "Many influencers and visitors may not realise that picking fungi is not permitted in the Forest, but posts showing mushrooms being collected can encourage others to follow suit."

Authorities are asking the public to appreciate the woodland without damaging its natural resources.

"We want everyone to enjoy the Forest and experience its remarkable wildlife," Haines said. "Our message is simple: click, don't pick."

Fungi play a critical role in maintaining the forest's delicate ecosystem. By recycling essential nutrients back into the soil, fungi help sustain local wildlife and preserve approximately 55,000 ancient trees across the area.

Stripping mushrooms from the base of a tree severs these vital nutrient supply lines. Over time, repeated harvesting directly weakens the surrounding timber and prevents the organisms from reproducing.

The City of London Corporation, which manages the woodland as a registered charity , highlighted the area's ecological significance following several landmark botanical discoveries.

Conservationists recorded the UK’s first confirmed sighting of Russula blumiana in Epping Forest in 2025, just a year after discovering Hydropus inopinatus in nearby Burnham Beeches.