Rise of ‘middle-class foragers’ prompts warning on safety and sustainability
foraging food coming natural world It’s considered a way to connect with nature and bring into the kitchen a few tasty morsels that you can’t easily find in the supermarket.
But, a warning last week The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust said it does not allow foraging on its reserves, highlighting concerns about a practice that has seen remarkable growth in recent years.
The trust reminded visitors: “Mushrooms and toadstools are the reproductive part of the fungus, and collecting them can prevent the fungus from releasing its spores to maintain a healthy population. It can also remove extremely important food sources for a range of wildlife and even other fungi.”
Foraging is on the rise, partly due to the rise of wholesome social media accounts showcasing nature’s bounty and how to enjoy or prepare foraged foods, and partly due to a broader sense of wanting to connect with nature.
A quick visit to Instagram can show you How to prepare acorns for consumptionor helpfully, How to avoid eating death cap – the deadliest mushroom in the world.
The rise of foraging and the accompanying social media phenomenon led to accusations It is stated that “middle class foragers” who do not have the depth of knowledge necessary to forage for food safely and sustainably pose a risk to the environment and their own health.
“We want people to come to our nature reserves and enjoy the wildlife we have there, including fantastic rare and unusual species you might not see in a local park, farmland or other parts of the countryside,” the Wildlife Trust post said. He said, adding: “If you take anything away from our nature reserves, make it a photo and please leave the beautiful wildlife for others to enjoy.”
For those who want to learn how to forage legally, safely and sustainably, advice is available from a number of experts who are part of the Foragers Association, a membership organization that promotes best practice.
“I run foraging walks most of the year and a lot of people come to these walks with very little knowledge. But that’s the great thing about walking in person – you can inform people about what’s sustainable and what’s legal,” he said. Liam O’BrienHe lives in Dorset and runs foraging walks and related activities.
“I can see social media increasing interest, but it also ties into people’s quest to connect with nature. I think we’re quite disconnected from nature as a society, and it’s good that people want to reconnect and learn.”
He added: “I’m a big supporter of the right to roam movement. We should have something like the one that was introduced to Scotland so long ago and the right to move about the land respectfully because so much land is in private hands and locked up behind fences.”
O’Brien said he would recommend those new to foraging to take a walk with a foraging expert.
“There are so many talented foraging guides and teachers all over this country. Through the Foragers Association website, people can see who is hiking in their area and go and find out for themselves. “This can really help boost people’s confidence, understand the risks and learn how to do it sustainably.
“If they learn to do things respectfully and sustainably and release some to nature (animals, insects and other foragers), there will be more than enough to go around.”
