A rare and protected fungus has been found at a nature reserve in Canterbury.
The Hericium erinaceus, or lion’s mane fungus, has the highest level of legal protection in the UK due to its scarcity. Kent Wildlife Trust said it had been spotted by a visitor.
It is illegal in the UK to collect, uproot or destroy the fungus and anyone doing so could face six months in prison or a £5,000 fine.
interesting, pretty sure I can get this to eat at most vegetarian places where I live… 🤔
They are certainly edible and are considered to have a range of health benefits - but the commercially available ones will be farmed or collected elsewhere than in the UK. Even if anyone did feel like foraging for them in the UK - which would be illegal, of course - given how rare they are, there’s no way it would be commercially viable.