[MAK]

On BBC TV last night there was a slot about foraging and how it has been outlawed in parts of the UK. They mentioned Epping and The New Forrest. Are these forrests private or are there regulatory authorities that have the power to stop foraging ?

I can understand that people stripping woodlands for fungi is not good but maybe energy should be put in to stopping these people rather than banning everyone else who want to forage.

A ban on foraging - or colecting mushrooms etc would cause riots here in France. It would be an assault on a way of live and more importantly "the French "way of life.
As an aside our local newspaper ( in Limousin) reported that a man shot his neighbour " a known thief" for stealing his truffels. He was aquitted of course.

[happygolucky]

Apparently you used to be able to gather fire for wood in forests in Scotland but you are not allowed now due to? you guessed it, Health and Safety, although I do suspect some people take things a  bit far with chain saws etc., no laws so far re foraging up here but as I see loads of people with baskets collecting fungi, I suspect one day that will filter up here too, that's sad as currently we all could fill our freezers with berries from the bushes.  That's supposed to be progress!!  ?

[AndynJ]

Apparently you used to be able to gather fire for wood in forests in Scotland

Your welcome to that one, I've heard of collecting wood for the fire, but the other way round that's not for me 
We forage purely for ourselves, we only take 2 portions one for now & one for the freezer.
happygolucky yo did make me 

[tizaala]

http://www.new-forest-national-park.com/new-forest-verderers-byelaws.html


It's all a bit complicated in the New forest  Mak, have a look at this link and pick through the bones of it.


In general fungi and wild fruits and berries are classified as wild crops and are free to everyone on common ground.

[lachlanandmarcus]

Epping Forest is owned by the Corporation of London who arent quite the same as other councils (having lived in flats owned by them they are a lot more conmpetent too!).

But any council could i guess put on a byelaw.

I understand what you say about foraging but did you see the bin bags full, the forest was being systematically stripped including of many rare species and they had tried education and licensing.

Hopefully in France it will contonue to be individuals collecting for their own use predominantly, france is different too being six times the size. Do they have more issues where protected forests are right next to paris i wonder. Or maybe there arent such things. I dont know....

[happygolucky]

Your welcome to that one, I've heard of collecting wood for the fire, but the other way round that's not for me 

I read that over and over and still could not see what I had written that was funny, no silly spellings etc....then I clicked.......I think fire is currently very much on my mind........I have a good giggle at myself and my husband most days, we are a funny pair (in   wired sort of way)

[tizaala]

" we are a funny pair (in   wired sort of way " 
Crossed wires again ?

[happygolucky]

  I give up.......today (and most days) my brain and fingers have fallen out!

[doganjo]

There are foraging courses in England - Woodland Ways does them I think.

In Scotland, it is legal to gather fruits, nuts and seeds for personal consumption, (Not for commercial purposes though) but illegal to collect wild plants or fungi on a National Nature Reserve (NNR) or a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) without the express permission of Scottish Natural Heritage, who would first require you to present written permission from the landowner.

Woodlands allocate permits to collect fallen wood but not logs already pre-cut by staff, as those are covered by the various Theft Acts.

A sensible and sensitive approach to harvesting, conservation and other land users and owners is all you really need, but there is a code of conduct on some websites if anyone is concerned that they may be stealing. (Botanical Society maybe, can't remember)

John and I used to do a lot of foraging when we lived in Aberdeenshire and we had our own fields and woodlands too, but a lot has changed in the last 10 years.

Perhaps it is similar to France in some respects but as time progresses there are more and more restrictions.