Mushroom Picking in Wicklow

54and56

Hi all,

I would like to go mushroom hunting with my kids this weekend. I'm based in Stillorgan so the Wicklow hills seem to be the nearest logical location. I have done my homework on safe varieties to eat and will obey the golden rule of not eating anything I'm not 100% certain of. I'm also intending to stick to public areas such as parks, forests and mountain walks etc rather than privately owned farms unless there are any farmers on here who would welcome us to mushroom pick on their land?

I'm looking for suggestions on where to look. I know the best locations are kept a closely guarded secret so I'm just looking for areas in general where I could start as I really haven't a clue.

Appreciate any tips by reply or PM.

loyatemu

Avondale House usually runs Mushroom picking walks in Sept/Oct each year. You're generally better off getting someone who knows their stuff to show you what's safe, than trying to identify species from a book - you only have to make one mistake....

Alun

The Avondale House mushroom hunts are organised by Bill O'Dea from http://www.mushroomstuff.com. They have run them in Kilruddery House recently too. Heartily recommended. I've been on two and I still know next to nothing about what's safe and what isn't

54and56

loyatemu wrote: »

Avondale House usually runs Mushroom picking walks in Sept/Oct each year. You're generally better off getting someone who knows their stuff to show you what's safe, than trying to identify species from a book - you only have to make one mistake....

Thanks Loyatemu,

Appreciate the advice. I'll give Avondale House a call.

BTW, the guy in that article made the fatal mistake of eating a mushroom he admits he wasn't 100% certain about. I am too risk adverse to make that mistake. If I'm not 110% certain it will be going in the bin. The downside it far greater than the potential upside of enjoying one mushroom!!

FirstIn

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Thanks Loyatemu,

Appreciate the advice. I'll give Avondale House a call.

BTW, the guy in that article made the fatal mistake of eating a mushroom he admits he wasn't 100% certain about. I am too risk adverse to make that mistake. If I'm not 110% certain it will be going in the bin. The downside it far greater than the potential upside of enjoying one mushroom!!

Your probably best off doing the picking, getting home and when the kids aren't watching just bin them.

Buy some supermarket ones and fry them up instead. The kids won't know the difference and importantly no one dies.

54and56

FirstIn wrote: »

Your probably best off doing the picking, getting home and when the kids aren't watching just bin them.

Buy some supermarket ones and fry them up instead. The kids won't know the difference and importantly no one dies.

Love it!!

Zebbedee

FirstIn wrote: »

Your probably best off doing the picking, getting home and when the kids aren't watching just bin them.

Buy some supermarket ones and fry them up instead. The kids won't know the difference and importantly no one dies.

Thats all very well until the kids grow up thinking all the wild mushrooms that were picked on that day with the parents are safe to eat and decide to go picking for themselves.