THE FUN GUY

When it comes to unearthing fascinating fungi in the New Forest, former chef Richard Sawden is the go-to expert

- Viv Micklefield

If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise. Well, teddy bear’s picnics aside, head into the New Forest at this time of year and the biggest head-turner is often the explosion of wild mushrooms emerging under your feet. From fairy tale-like red and white spotted toadstools to giant puffballs, the New Forest is one of the most important sites for mushrooms in Britain with almost 3,000 different species known to grow here.

Where foraging for wild mushrooms was once a popular pursuit in this part of the county, in order to protect the fragile ecosystem, Forestry England outlaws picking for commercial sale. And all visitors are encouraged to ‘please look but don’t pick’ out of respect for the natural environment which relies so heavily on fungi playing its vital part within the web of life. All of which explains why Ringwood-based Richard Sawden, founder of New Forest Wild and Exotic Mushrooms, is registered to lead mushroom identification workshops on the common-land, while focusing his foraging on private land, with the landowner’s permission.

“There’s always something that can be found if you know where to look,” says Richard. “There may be several types of wild mushroom available to forage this autumn. We normally pick chanterelle, and penny bun, which is also known as porcini or cep, and we’ve got hedgehog mushrooms too, which are popular with customers.