Social media mushroom foraging trends threatening Epping Forest ecosystem

Social media posts showcasing fungi picking is affecting a forest's ecosystem, according to officials.

Picking wild mushrooms from Epping Forest in Essex is banned under by-laws but fungi-related content has surged in popularity online.

Foragers risk getting fined or prosecuted for picking the mushrooms, but they can also be poisonous if eaten.

Caroline Haines, the chair of the City Corporation's Epping Forest and Commons Committee, said posts showing mushrooms being collected "can encourage others to follow suit" and urged people to "click, don't pick".

Picking the fungi can disrupt the forest's ecosystem, which helps recycle nutrients, support wildlife, and preserve some 55,000 ancient trees.

However, fungi-related content continues to grow in popularity on social media, with posts showcasing unusual mushrooms and foraging finds attracting large audiences.