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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust calls on mushroom foragers to stop | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust calls on mushroom foragers to stop |
| (3 months later) | |
| BBOWT says the fungi foraging is worse than ever this year | BBOWT says the fungi foraging is worse than ever this year |
| A wildlife charity has pleaded with people to stop picking mushrooms at its nature reserves. | A wildlife charity has pleaded with people to stop picking mushrooms at its nature reserves. |
| The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) said fungi was being stripped by "gangs of foragers" on a commercial scale, damaging biodiversity. | The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) said fungi was being stripped by "gangs of foragers" on a commercial scale, damaging biodiversity. |
| The trust manages 86 nature reserves across the three counties and does not allow the activity on any of its sites. | The trust manages 86 nature reserves across the three counties and does not allow the activity on any of its sites. |
| It said it did not object to people foraging on any land where they have the landowner's permission. | It said it did not object to people foraging on any land where they have the landowner's permission. |
| Roger Stace, BBOWT's land manager, said: "Members of the public have reported seeing teams of people sweeping across the site with big carrier bags." | Roger Stace, BBOWT's land manager, said: "Members of the public have reported seeing teams of people sweeping across the site with big carrier bags." |
| He said while the trust sees the problem every autumn, it was worse this year. | He said while the trust sees the problem every autumn, it was worse this year. |
| "We've certainly had more reports," he said, adding: "And I suspect that is partly down to the cost-of-living crisis. I also fear commercial foragers are selling stolen fungi to restaurants for money." | "We've certainly had more reports," he said, adding: "And I suspect that is partly down to the cost-of-living crisis. I also fear commercial foragers are selling stolen fungi to restaurants for money." |
| Mushrooms and toadstools are the reproductive part of the fungus and picking them can stop the fungus from releasing its spores to sustain a healthy population. | Mushrooms and toadstools are the reproductive part of the fungus and picking them can stop the fungus from releasing its spores to sustain a healthy population. |
| BBOWT land manager Roger Stace urged people to stop picking mushrooms at the Trust's sites | BBOWT land manager Roger Stace urged people to stop picking mushrooms at the Trust's sites |
| Mr Stace said: "We are lucky to have some incredibly rare fungus species on our nature reserves, and if people aren't trained they could be picking and destroying these rare species." | Mr Stace said: "We are lucky to have some incredibly rare fungus species on our nature reserves, and if people aren't trained they could be picking and destroying these rare species." |
| Mushroom foraging can also remove important sources of food for a host of wild animals and damage the delicate ecosystem of its reserves. | Mushroom foraging can also remove important sources of food for a host of wild animals and damage the delicate ecosystem of its reserves. |
| Most fungi share nutrients, water and energy with trees and other plants, forming a sprawling network so vast scientists have coined the phrase "Wood-Wide Web" to talk about their communication system, said the Trust. | Most fungi share nutrients, water and energy with trees and other plants, forming a sprawling network so vast scientists have coined the phrase "Wood-Wide Web" to talk about their communication system, said the Trust. |
| "If you're going to take anything at our nature reserves, make it a photograph, and leave the beautiful wildlife for others to enjoy," urged Mr Stace. | "If you're going to take anything at our nature reserves, make it a photograph, and leave the beautiful wildlife for others to enjoy," urged Mr Stace. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Berkshire | |
| Conservation | Conservation |
| Plants | Plants |
| Oxford | Oxford |
| Nature | Nature |