Woodland Trust warns commercial foragers are wiping out fungi in protected Devon sites
The Woodland Trust has issued a warning regarding the ecological damage caused by over-foraging in protected areas, specifically highlighting the unsustainable harvesting of fungi. Site manager Joe Middleton reported that commercial pickers are stripping path edges and trampling forest floors, which threatens local wildlife that relies on mushrooms for food. While personal foraging is legal under the Theft Act 1968, commercial harvesting without permission is illegal, and foraging is restricted in Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Experts urge foragers to take only a small portion of available resources and to respect the needs of non-human wildlife.