Sparassis crispa · Sparassidaceae
Also called Brain Fungus
A cream coloured mass of wavy lobes at the base of pines, looking like a bath sponge or a cauliflower.
Edible. None known, but it is very fiddly to clean.
Read the full foraging safety guidance.
August to November
Nothing dangerous looks like it. Older specimens simply toughen.
Soak and rinse thoroughly, every fold holds grit and insects. Wonderful flavour, good in soups and slow dishes.
Calocybe gambosa
A solid white spring mushroom of grassland, traditionally appearing around St Georges Day.
Boletus edulis
The most sought-after wild mushroom in Britain: nutty, firm and richly scented, with a pale bun-like cap and a fat netted stem.
Cantharellus cibarius
Egg-yolk yellow, trumpet-shaped and smelling faintly of apricots. One of the safest and finest edibles once learned.
