Updated 11 November 2026
Mushroom season in the UK
Daily forecast for 12 regions.
Mushroom season in the UK runs from late summer to late autumn and peaks in October. Below is how active it is in each region today. High mycelium activity in 12 of 12 regions right now. Highest in Wales and West Midlands (100 and 100%).
See the forecast for your region
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Highest activity now
Mycelium activity map: mushrooms of the UK
Tap a region to see its detailed forecast and weather.
Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2022.
Mushroom forecast by region: ranking
By mycelium activity index, from 0 to 100%
What's growing now
Species active in November across the UK.
Bay boleteEdible
Parasol mushroomEdible
Honey fungusConditionally edible
Brown birch boleteEdible
Oyster mushroomEdible
Velvet shankEdibleIn the woods now
Autumn: peak season
September and October are the richest months in Britain: about 330 of the species in our UK catalogue fruit in each of them. The ground is still warm after summer and autumn rain is regular, so most woodland mushrooms appear at once. In November the count drops to about 230, and the season winds down with the first hard frosts.
Every mushroom page shows when that species fruits in the UK, so you can check before you head out. Weather matters as much as the calendar: a week or two after good rain on warm ground is when the flushes come.
When do mushrooms grow in the UK?
Most mushrooms in the UK fruit two to four weeks after a wet spell, from late summer to late autumn. Our data show that rain from that window, and moist air, matter more than a shower this week.
That is why a dry September can still be followed by a good October once the rain returns, and why the index can rise a fortnight after the weather has already turned wet.
Mushroom calendar: mushrooms by month
Pick a season or a month to see which mushrooms are about.
Swipe sideways →Useful to know
What the index means
How to read the mycelium activity index
The index from 0 to 100% is our daily estimate of how likely mushrooms are to be fruiting in each region. It combines the usual shape of the season for that region with this year's weather.
- 81–100% · Peak seasonMushrooms are fruiting across most of the region. The best time to go out.
- 61–80% · High activityA good flush is under way. Well worth a trip.
- 31–60% · Moderate activityThere is something to find, but expect to search.
- 0–30% · Low activityToo dry, too cold or too early. Better to wait.
In Britain mushrooms respond most to rain from two to four weeks earlier and to how dry the air is, compared with what is normal for the region at that time of year. The index shows a likelihood, not a guarantee: conditions in a particular wood can differ.
Where mushrooms grow
Mushroom habitats in the UK
Broadleaf woodland
Oak, beech and birch woods across England and Wales are the richest ground for boletes and chanterelles, especially old woodland with plenty of dead wood.
Pinewoods and conifer forests
Native Caledonian pinewood in Scotland and conifer plantations elsewhere carry their own species, many of them tied to pine and spruce roots.
Grassland and pasture
Old unimproved grassland, lawns and pasture hold field mushrooms, parasols and, in autumn, waxcaps, many of which are rare and best left to grow.
Parks and gardens
Town parks, churchyards and leaf piles produce a surprising range of fungi close to home.
On Forestry England land in the New Forest, picking fungi is not allowed.
Is foraging legal in the UK? →When things grow
The mushroom year in the UK
Spring
The year opens with St George's mushroom in grassland around late April and morels in spring.
Summer
The first boletes and chanterelles appear after summer rain. A dry summer can hold the season back by weeks.
Autumn
The main season, peaking in October and often running through November in the south.
Winter
Few species, but velvet shank, jelly ear and oyster mushrooms fruit on dead wood through mild spells.
For foragers
Before you head into the woods
Look back at the rain
In Britain a good flush usually follows a wet spell two to four weeks earlier. Rain this week is a promise for later in the month rather than for tomorrow.
Check the land and the rules
The rules differ in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and landowners set their own. Some fungi are protected by law.
Is foraging legal in the UK? →Know what you pick
Never put a mushroom in your basket unless you are sure of it. Death cap and destroying angel are deadly and resemble edible species. Check every find in the MycoNote atlas and its lookalike comparisons. If you suspect poisoning, call 999 or 112 at once.
Questions · 8
The mushroom forecast and foraging in the UK
Short answers about the forecast, the season and safe picking.
Not sure what you have found? Share a photo and the community will help identify it.
Identify from a photo01Are mushrooms out in the UK right now?
It depends on the region and the weather. Check the activity map: the darker the green, the more is fruiting. Dark moss green (81–100%) means peak season, green (61–80%) a good flush, light green (31–60%) something to find with some searching, and beige (0–30%) a time to wait. The forecast updates every day.
02When is mushroom season in the UK?
The main season runs from late summer to late autumn and peaks in October. In Scotland and the north it starts earlier; in the south of England it often lasts into November. A few species, such as velvet shank, fruit through the winter, and spring brings St George's mushroom and morels.
03Where are the best places to find mushrooms in the UK?
Old broadleaf woodland with oak, beech and birch, native pinewoods in Scotland and unimproved grassland are the richest habitats. Always check who owns the land and its rules: on Forestry England land in the New Forest, picking fungi is not allowed.
04How do I use the MycoNote forecast?
Pick your region on the map or in the ranking. The region page shows today's index with a short written forecast, recent rain, soil temperature and the species in season. The index is recalculated every night.
05What does the activity index mean?
It is our daily estimate, from 0 to 100%, of how likely mushrooms are to be fruiting in a region. It combines the usual shape of the season with this year's weather: rain from two to four weeks earlier and the dryness of the air, compared with the region's normal.
06How long after rain do mushrooms appear?
In Britain the clearest link is with rain two to four weeks earlier. A single shower after a dry spell rarely makes a difference; a wet week or two usually does.
07Is it legal to pick wild mushrooms in the UK?
Picking for your own use is generally allowed, but the rules differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, landowners can set their own, and some species are protected. Commercial picking needs permission.
08Is it safe to forage for mushrooms on my own?
Only if you are certain of every mushroom you keep. If in doubt, leave it. Death cap and destroying angel are deadly and look like edible species. If you suspect poisoning, call 999 or 112 straight away and keep a sample of the mushroom.