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