Ever wondered which wild edible mushrooms are safe to eat and how to spot them?
This is a list with pictures of 15 beginner-friendly wild mushrooms that you can forage in the UK.
Whether you’re interested in frying, roasting, or adding mushrooms to soups and stews, this guide will help you recognise and safely forage the best wild mushrooms in the UK.
Foraging Safety: The Essential Guidelines
Before we dive into the list, let’s cover some key safety tips when foraging for wild mushrooms:
- Identification is crucial: Only eat mushrooms that you can identify with 100% certainty
- Cross-reference: Use at least 3 reliable field guides to double-check your finds
- Avoid raw mushrooms: Always cook your mushrooms, as some species are poisonous if eaten raw
- Look for poisonous lookalikes: Some edible mushrooms have poisonous twins, so be cautious and research thoroughly
- Consider joining a group: Foraging walks with experts can help you identify mushrooms with confidence
- Spore print: If you’re unsure, take a spore print to help with identification
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s jump into our list of 15 edible mushrooms that are perfect for beginners!
1. Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus)
Often referred to as the lawyer’s wig, the shaggy inkcap is an easy-to-spot mushroom that’s great for beginners. It grows in grassy areas, making it easy to find in parks and gardens.
How to Spot It:
- Tall, white cap covered in shaggy scales
- Turns bell-shaped as it ages
- Black “ink” appears as it matures
Flavour and Use:
- Mild, nutty flavour
- Best cooked young in butter or risottos
Safety Tip:
- Only eat while firm and white; discard if it turns black.
2. Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)
This mushroom is truly massive, often the size of a football1.
The giant puffball is easy to identify, as there’s not much else it could be – at least once it gets bigger than your head!
How to Spot It:
- White, round ball, ranging from the size of an orange to a football
- Soft, marshmallow-like texture inside
- Found in fields and woodland edges
Flavour and Use:
- Mild taste with a fluffy texture
- Fry like steak or add to soups
Safety Tips:
- Make sure the inside is pure white—discard if yellow or brown
- Leave specimens smaller than an orange behind to avoid misidentification
3. Hedgehog Fungus (Hydnum repandum)
This little gem is known for its soft spines underneath the cap instead of gills, which makes it pretty easy to identify. It’s a tasty mushroom that grows in rings in most types of woodland.2
How to Spot It:
- Pale beige to light orange cap
- Soft spines under the cap
- Found in woodlands, often near beech or oak
Flavour and Use:
- Sweet, nutty flavour
- Sauté in butter for a delicious side dish
4. Wood Blewit (Collybia nuda)
With its violet hue, the wood blewit stands out in the woods during autumn and early winter. It’s a favourite for its flavour and colour.
How to Spot It:
- Lilac to purple when young, fading to brown
- Pale gills and a frosty white coating
- Found in leaf litter in woods or gardens
Flavour and Use:
- Mildly sweet and earthy
- Great in creamy dishes or on toast
Safety Tip:
- Always cook thoroughly—never eat raw.
5. Bay Bolete (Imleria badia)
A favourite of boletes, the bay bolete has a smooth, brown cap and yellow pores that bruise blue when touched.
How to Spot It:
- Brown, velvety cap
- Yellow pores that bruise blue when touched
- Found under pine trees
Flavour and Use:
- Nutty, rich flavour
- Perfect for drying and adding to soups and stews
6. Birch Bolete (Leccinum scabrum)
This mild-flavoured mushroom is common in birch woodlands and safe to eat once cooked.
How to Spot It:
- Brown cap with pale stem and small black scales
- Found under birch trees from late summer to autumn
Flavour and Use:
- Mild and mushroomy
- Ideal for pies, soups, or mixed mushroom dishes
7. Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
With its bright yellow, shelf-like shape, chicken of the woods is an unmistakable mushroom. It grows on tree trunks, often oak or chestnut.
How to Spot It:
- Vivid orange to sulphur-yellow
- Grows on tree trunks and stumps
Flavour and Use:
- Tastes like chicken! Great as a vegan alternative
- Best cooked well to avoid digestion issues
Safety Tip:
- Avoid mushrooms growing from yew trees.
8. Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica)
This unique mushroom looks like raw meat, with a reddish tongue-shaped cap that “bleeds” red juice when cut. It grows on oak and chestnut trees.
How to Spot It:
- Reddish, tongue-shaped cap that oozes red juice
- Grows on wood, not soil
Flavour and Use:
- Tangy, meaty texture
- Cook like steak or slice thinly for marinating
9. Dryad’s Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus)
Also known as pheasant’s back, this mushroom has a large, scaly cap with brown feather-like markings.
How to Spot It:
- Large, scaly cap with feather-like markings
- Grows in shelves on tree trunks or stumps
Flavour and Use:
- Mild, nutty flavour
- Best cooked young in stir-fries or soups
10. Wood Ears (Auricularia auricula-judae)
Wood ears are rubbery, ear-shaped mushrooms that grow on elder trees. They’re known for their chewy texture, perfect for stir-fries and soups.
How to Spot It:
- Brown, rubbery, ear-shaped fungus
- Grows on elder wood (or other hardwoods)
Flavour and Use:
- Mild flavour
- Soak dried wood ears before cooking in soups or stir-fries
11. Scarlet Elfcups (Sarcoscypha spp.)
This small, red mushroom is one of the first to appear in late winter and early spring. Its vibrant colour makes it hard to miss.
How to Spot It:
- Small, cup-shaped, bright red mushroom
- Grows on damp logs or twigs
Flavour and Use:
- Mild, earthy flavour
- Lovely in wild salads or as a garnish
12. Cauliflower Fungus (Sparassis crispa)
With a unique, frilly appearance, the cauliflower fungus is a showstopper in the woods. It grows at the base of conifer trees.
How to Spot It:
- Pale, ruffled mass resembling a cauliflower
- Found at the base of conifer trees
Flavour and Use:
- Mild, nutty flavour
- Cooks beautifully in risottos or creamy sauces
13. Field Blewits (Lepista saeva)
This pale lilac mushroom grows in fairy rings in fields and meadows. It’s great for autumn and early winter foragers.
How to Spot It:
- Pale purple cap, lilac tones underneath
- Thick stem and crowded gills
Flavour and Use:
- Earthy, rich flavour
- Great sautéed or added to mushroom pies
14. Grey Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Oyster mushrooms are widely foraged and can also be cultivated. Their mild, savoury taste is perfect for a variety of dishes.
How to Spot It:
- Fan-shaped grey caps growing in clusters
- White gills running down a short stem
Flavour and Use:
- Mild, savoury, slightly meaty
- Great in pasta, stir-fries, or grilled on toast
15. Mica Cap (Coprinellus micaceus)
Small but delicious, the mica cap is easy to spot and a favourite wild edible mushroom for foragers in the UK.
How to Spot It:
- Small, bell-shaped cap with shiny mica-like scales
- Found in clusters on decaying wood
Flavour and Use:
- Delicate, sweet flavour
- Perfect for sautéing or adding to sauces
Final Tips for Foraging Wild Edible Mushrooms in the UK:
- Start Slow: Learn a few mushrooms really well before you try to identify more.
- Use All Your Senses: Pay attention to colour, texture, and smell, which can help with identification.
- Join a Group: A foraging group or society can teach you practical identification skills.
- Leave Rare Species: Only take what you need, leaving enough for wildlife and regeneration.
References
- Calvatia gigantea, by First Nature ↩︎
- Hedgehog Fungus by Wild Food UK ↩︎
Want to learn more about wild edible mushrooms?
Check out this post: List of Edible Mushrooms with Pictures: 14 Wild Gems
Wild Edible Mushrooms: Final Thoughts
I hope this list of wild edible mushrooms has sparked your interest in foraging and mushroom hunting.
What’s the first wild mushroom you ever tried? How did you identify it?
Happy foraging, and may your mushroom hunts be full of delicious discoveries!
🍄🌿
