1This evening we're delighted to welcome Dan Beagle,
2who's just written a book on looking for and finding food in the wild.
3He's going to tell us everything we need to know about picking wild mushrooms.
4Thank you very much.
5Well, I need to start by talking about safety.
6You really need to know what you're doing because some mushrooms are extremely poisonous.
7Having said that, once you know what to look for,
8it's really worth doing for the amazing variety of mushrooms available -
9which you can't get in the shops.
10But of course, you have to be very careful
11and that's why I always say you should never consume mushrooms picked by friends or neighbours.
12Always remember that some poisonous mushrooms look very similar to edible ones
13and it's easy for people to get confused.
14The other thing to avoid is mushrooms growing beside busy roads for obvious reasons.
15But nothing beats the taste of freshly picked mushrooms.
16Don't forget that the ones in the shops are often several days old and past their best.
17There are certain ideas about wild mushrooms that it's important to be aware of.
18Don't listen to people who tell you that it's only OK to eat mushrooms that are pale or dull.
19This is completely untrue.
20Some edible mushrooms are bright red, for example.
21Personally, I prefer mushrooms cooked
22but it won't do you any harm to eat them uncooked in salads,
23it's not necessary to peel them.
24Another thing you should remember is that you can't tell if a mushroom is safe to eat by its smell.
25Some of the most deadly mushrooms have no smell and taste quite nice, apparently.
26Finally, just because deer or squirrels eat a particular mushroom doesn't mean that you can.
27Of course, mushroom picking is associated with the countryside
28but if you haven't got a car, your local park can be a great place to start.
29There are usually a range of habitats where mushrooms grow,
30such as playing fields and wooded areas.
31But you need to be there first thing in the morning,
32as there's likely to be a lot of competition,
33not just from people but wildlife too.
34The deer often get the best mushrooms in my local park.
35If you're a complete beginner,
36I wouldn't recommend going alone or relying on photos in a book,
37even the one I've written!
38There are some really good phone apps for identifying mushrooms,
39but you can't always rely on getting a good signal in the middle of a wood.
40If possible, you should go with a group led by an expert.
41You'll stay safe and learn a lot that way.
42Conservation is a really important consideration
43and you must follow a few basic rules.
44You should never pick all the mushrooms in one area.
45Collect only enough for your own needs.
46Be very careful that you don't trample on young mushrooms or other plants.
47And make sure you don't pick any mushrooms that are endangered and protected by law.
48There's been a decline in some varieties of wild mushrooms in this part of the country.
49Restaurants are becoming more interested in locally sourced food like wild mushrooms,
50but the biggest problem is that so many new houses have been built in this area in the last ten years.
51And more water is being taken from rivers and reservoirs because of this,
52and mushroom habitats have been destroyed.
53Anyway, a word of advice on storing mushrooms.
54Collect them in a brown paper bag
55and as soon as you get home, put them in the fridge.
56They'll be fine for a couple of days,
57but it's best to cook them as soon as possible
58after washing them really carefully first, of course.
59So everybody knows what a mushroom tastes like, right?
60Well, you'll be surprised by the huge variety of wild mushrooms there are.
61Be adventurous!
62They're great in so many dishes:
63stir fries, risottos, pasta.
64But just be aware that some people can react badly to certain varieties
65so it's a good idea not to eat huge quantities to begin with.
66OK, so now I'm going to show you...