Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the foraging of food in natural habitats.

Species targeted for wild food foraging are generally common and widespread. These species that are deemed at risk are protected by the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Guidelines on the picking of edible fungi can be accessed at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Eng_NF_FungiCode.pdf/$file/Eng_NF_FungiCode.pdf

Any proposals for wild food foraging on sites of special scientific interest in England would require consent from Natural England.