©Amy Lewis
Foraging
Small-scale foraging is rarely an issue when carried out responsibly and can have a positive role in connecting people with nature. However, picking wild plants and fungi in an unsustainable manner can damage wildlife and compromise the conservation goals of Avon Wildlife Trust. In addition, some foraging activities can potentially break the law.
We want to make sure people can forage sustainably and enjoy our sites, but also that the land we care for can continue to support healthy ecosystems. We welcome sustainable picking on most of our land, but we discourage excessive foraging.
Guidance for sustainable foraging
To ensure that you are foraging sustainably, we ask that you observe the following,
Only collect flowers, leaves, fruits and seeds where they are in abundance.
Do not forage for commercial purposes. Please only pick for personal use and only pick as much as you will use. Always leave plenty for others to enjoy.
Identify species carefully and always be completely certain of what you are picking and avoid poisonous species. Please forage only common and abundant foods and never take rare, vulnerable or threatened species. Never consume a wild plant or fungus unless you are absolutely certain of its identification. Fungi can be notoriously difficult to identify, so if you're unsure it's best to leave alone.
Avoid picking protected species and do not forage anything without consent on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Don’t uproot or damage structures below ground. This is illegal without consent under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Always stick to the Countryside Code: respect, protect and enjoy.
Minimise damage to sites, stick to paths and take care not to trample down or damage areas you are collecting from. Uprooting plants is harmful, so pick leaves or berries with care, in moderation and avoid damaging plant roots.
Forage carefully and leave plenty behind to ensure there is enough left for birds and species to consume now and to ensure plants and fungi can regenerate and reproduce. You may not be the only person foraging and plants and fungi need to produce seeds and spores to grow into the next generation.
Wild plants and the law
All wild plants are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). It is illegal to dig up or remove a plant (including algae, lichens and fungi) from the land on which it is growing without permission from the landowner or occupier. Some species are specially protected against picking, uprooting, damage and sale. A list of these can be found on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)