Foraging in Worsley Woods
Worsley Woods was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2006. The area is designated as a Site of Biological Importance, highlighting its significance for biodiversity within Greater Manchester
While not formally classified as a wetland, Worsley Woods contains several wetland habitat:
Kempnough Brook A stream that meanders through the woodland.
Old Warke Dam A historical reservoir
Wet Woodland Areas. Sections of the woods are wet woodland habitat, which are considered UK Priority Habitats. There are many fallen trees due to the area’s heavy clay soils, especially in combination with wet conditions and high winds. The trees often develop shallow roots since the roots struggle to penetrate compacted layers of clay.
The fallen trees and the wetlands support many types of plants and fungi.
Edible or usable
This is my foraging calendar all based on what I have seen in the woods right on my door step. In some cases there are link to recipes – none of which are “slice them up and fry them in butter”
Dates shown are when I have collected them. Some of the plants and mushrooms may be around at other times than those I have spotted.
This page should not be used as a primary source of identification of edible plants and fungi. There maybe errors here.
Scarlet Elf Cups
Spring
Safe and edible but with little taste. Use for decoration
Primrose
Spring
Flowers as garnish and in salads
Young leaves in salad
Bitter Dock
Spring
Young leaves in salad
Dandelions
Spring
Young and inner leaves in salad
Flowers in sweets and baking
Field Mustard
Spring
Only 1 plant found!
- Leaves: sautéed or in raw in salad
- Seeds: flavour in cooking or make mustard
Garlic Mustard
Spring
Wild Carrot
Summer
This photo is from a nearby location (only one not in the woods)
Cow Parsley
Spring
Risky: This is too similar to Hemlock to be safe. There is lots of Hemlock in these woods and is of course famously deadly
Wood Avens
Spring to Autumn
Young leaves in soups/stews. Roots used for flavouring, though I have not tried myself yet.
Raspberries
July
Wild Strawberries
June/July
(Pale) Oyster Mushrooms
Pleurotus pulmonarius
June/July
Sour Cherries
June/July
Cherries are not so abundant on the tress in our wood but there are a few
Pendulous Sedge
July
Remove husks, toast seeds, then grind into flour or use whole in cooked dishes.
Broadleaf Plantain
Late summer to autumn
Plantago major
Mild flavour, high in fibre (like psyllium). Use in baking, porridge, or sprinkle like chia. Grind into flour
Thistles
Late summer to autumn
related to globe artichokes, a few parts of thistles can eat be eaten.
Rowan/Mountain Ash
Summer
Berries are edible when cooked, but not raw.
Make Rowan jelly (often paired with game or cheese)
Fat Hen
Summer
Found in edge of field bordering the woods
Ground Elder
Photo July but use in early spring
Pick only young, tender shoots that are bright green, shiny, closed or just unfurling.
Dock seeds
July to September
Remove husks, toast seeds, then grind into flour
Nettle seeds
July, August
Remove husks, toast seeds, then grind into flour
Himalayan Balsam seeds
August to October
Pick when seed pods are ripe but not yet exploding. Eat raw or toasted.
Deer Shield
Pluteus cervinus
July to autumn
considered edible by some sources. Rather bland flavour and potential for confusion with inedible species
Blackberries
Late Summer
The Deceiver
Laccaria laccata
Autumn
Laccaria laccata is edible, though not particularly flavourful
Acorns
October
Acorns can be dried and ground into flour
Wood Mushroom
Agaricus sylvicola
Autumn
Check ID against toxic look alikes
Honey Fungus
Armillaria mellea
Autumn
I have not eaten these. Some people have a reaction. Do not eat when drinking alcohol
Shaggy Inkcap
Coprinus comatus
October
This does develop a cap but best foraged young.
Porcini
Boletus edulis
October
Raspberries
October
Wood Blewit
Lepista nuda
October
edible if well cooked. Check for look-alikes
Jelly Ear Fungus
Auricularia auricula-judae
October
little flavour but a pleasant crunchy/jelly texture
Apples
October
We have a few apple trees but not possible to identify types.
Firethorn
Pyracantha
October
Not to be eaten raw: can be used to make sweet jelly and chutney
Inedible
Bracket fungi and slime moulds
While these are inedible, some do have their uses and there are there are some who use them for their medicinal properties
Artists Bracket
Ganoderma applanatum
Called as you can draw on it by scratching.
Hoof Fungus
All year
Kindling
Lumpy Bracket
Tramates Gibbosa
The green colouring is algae on the surface
King Alfred's Cakes
May
Kindling
Mystery
October
unknown bracket covered with a green crust-fungus
Symphytocarpus
May
24-48 hour life cycle
unknown
Dog Vomit Slime Mould
Fuligo septica
July
also known as “Scrambled Egg Slime”
Wrinkled Crust
Phlebia radiata
September
False Turkey Tail
Milk-White Toothed Polypore
Irpex lacteus
September
Hairy Curtain Crust
Stereum hirsutum
October
Smoky Bracket/Grey Polypore
Bjerkandera adusta
October
Blackening Polypore
Meripilus giganteus
October
Causes white rot in roots when growing around live trees
White Brain Fungus
Exidia thuretiana
October
Inedible Funghi
There is no real distinction between toadstools and mushrooms. General usage is Mushrooms=Edible; Toadstools=inedible. Where there are risks of misidentification, I am including possibly edible mushrooms with the inedible. It’s not worth taking the risk.
Glistening Inkcap
February/March
Can be confused with more poisonous relatives,
Pleated Inkcap
appear late spring and autumn
Polyporus Tuberaster
May
Do not confuse with Dryad’s Saddle. Not recommended for consumption.
Collared Parachute
Marasmius rotula
July
Marasmius rotula
Pale Brittlestem
July
Fairy Ink Cap
July
Stinking russula?
possibly Russula foetens
July
Grey spotted amanita
Amanita excelsa
July
Amanita includes several varieties that are deadly poisonous, including the infamous Death Cap mushroom
Velvet Bolete
Suillus variegatus
July
Technically it is edible but is apparently lacking in flavour.
Lurid Bolete
Suillellus luridus
July
Toxic raw
Common Earthball
Scleroderma citrinum
July
Toxic
Deer Shield
Pluteus cervinus
July
considered edible by some sources. Rather bland flavour and potential for confusion with inedible species
Grey Bolete?
July
False Deathcap
Amanita citrina
September
Clouded Funnel
Clitocybe nebularis
October
Also known as Clouded Agaric. Not to be confused with Trooping Funnel which is edible.
Scaly Puffball / Stump Puffball
October
White Saddle
Helvella crispa
October
sometimes listed as “edible when cooked,” contain monomethylhydrazine-like toxins, similar to false morels, and can cause poisoning if undercooked.
Grey Knight
(Tricholoma terreum)
October
Grey Spotted Amanita
October
(Amanita excelsa var. spissa)
Mycena sp. or Hemimycena
October
Sulphur Tuft
Hypholoma fasciculare
October
Beechwood Sickener
Russula nobilis
October
Fleecy Milkcap
Lactarius vellereus
October
Fly Agaric
Amanita muscaria
October
Clustered Bonnet
Mycena inclinata
October
Common Bonnet
Mycena galericulata
October
Waxcap
Hygrocybe coccinea or H. punicea
October
The Blusher
Amanita rubescens
October
Brown Roll-rim
Paxillus involutus
Autumn
Toxic
Garden near woods, but also found in the woods
Other plants
I could list hundreds of plants but I’ll pick some notable ones
Common Ragwort
Flowers June July
Can be poisonous to livestock and dogs
Giant Hogweed
Flowers June July
Wild Teasel
June/July
Red Elderberry
July/August
Raw berries are toxic.
White Dogwood
July/August
Berries are toxic.
Redshank
July/August
(Persicaria maculosa), also known in the UK as Redleg, Lady’s-thumb, or Spotted Lady’s-thumb Found at the edge of field bordering the wood
Butterbur
Spring to autumn
Rhubarb-like but inedible amd toxic to the liver.
Lilac-flowering mustard hybrid?
Summer
Found in field bordering the woods. Probably sown as cover crop.