National State Forests welcomes you to join a mushroom-picking picnic

Every year Polish forests offer the abundance of 20 million kilograms of mushrooms. This is a real treat for mushroom picking buffs, not only because of the mushroom galore – owing to the fact that most of the forest areas are managed by the State Forests - National Forest Holding (i.e. 80 %), woods are available and open for each and everyone of us. Situation in other countries may largely differ – in Belgium and the Netherlands it is forbidden to pick up mushrooms; in many other countries mushroom harvesting is limited by quotas – a particular person cannot possibly take home more than 1.5 to 2 kilos of mushrooms. In Austria there is a time limit, in Italy you must obtain a mushroom-picker ID, in France you need to pay a deer price even if you go harvesting in the state-owned woods and the mushrooms are designed for home use only. Not only are the Polish forests open to mushroom picking aficionados, but also for those who make a living on harvesting the forest undergrowth produce.

Polish foresters are also available to provide professional hale and advice for those, who go mushroom-picking; the forestry district offices make mushroom identification books, information boards, leaflets and mushroom folders available. In addition to the above, the National State Forests Information Centre has also published the “Safe mushroom harvesting” guide. It is also worth becoming familiar with mushroom picking events’ calendar; the State Forests - National Forest Holding’s programme includes 12th Grand Mushroom Picking in Długosiodo on 15th September, the Gifts of Swietokrzyskie Woods – Kielce 21st September, Polish championship quest for the largest red-type mushroom - Nowy Targ, 28 September; Mushroom Picking Picnic 2013 in the forests managed by Torun RDLP (Regional Directorate of National State Forests -
In Touń, Gniewkowo, Skrwilno, Osie on 28 September and Grand Mushroom Picking – Wisowa 2013, Dębica, 28 September.

For more information on mushroom-related events go to www.lasy.gov.pl , you can also visit us during the Lumberjack Championship - 14th and 15th September at the State Forests - National Forest Holding’s exhibition stand in Targi Kielce

Join us!