Campaigners want to ban 'fungi filchers' from picking mushrooms in the New Forest

The New Forest Association (NFA) has spoken out amid growing concern over commercial gangs invading the area every autumn and picking huge amounts of fungi and selling it to posh restaurants.

The Forestry Commission has vowed to “disrupt” commercial pickers arriving this year – but campaigners are calling for an outright ban.

NFA member Brian Tarnoff said fungi filchers were committing an “unacceptable theft” that was spoiling the Forest’s autumn beauty as well as destroying areas of natural habitat.

He added: “Every year vans full of unskilled labourers descend upon the Forest and indiscriminately strip our woodlands of every bit of fungi they encounter.

“The NFA has been heartened to learn of the Forestry Commission’s plans to disrupt commercial pickers.

“We support this as a positive first step. However we believe that going forward there should be a clear policy to ban fungi removal from the Crown lands.

"A total ban would send a message that this activity is no more acceptable than carting away bushels of bluebells or collecting birds’ eggs.”

Mr Tarnoff was speaking monthly at the monthly Court of Verderers, which also heard from Brockenhurst farmer Sara Cadbury who complained that little had been done to tackle the problem since she first raised the issue five years ago.

Citing the importance of mushrooms and the problems caused by their removal she said: “Vertebrates and invertebrates are being denied food and shelter.

“Rare fungi are regularly collected and the enjoyment of many, including photographers, is being ruined. The Forest is being exploited and trashed.”

Ms Cadbury quoted a letter from the International Society for Fungal Conservation, which said it strongly opposed a “selfish and inconsiderate activity” that had a widespread impact on the environment.

Last year the Official Verderer, Dominic May, warned that gangs were plundering the Forest on an “industrial scale”.

Commercial picking in the area has already been banned. The only exception is Brigitte Tee-Hillman, who won a landmark ruling against the Forestry Commission in 2006 after a four-year legal battle.

Non-commercial pickers are allowed to take as much as 1.5kg per visit.

The Commission warns that anyone collecting an excessive amount is likely to have their haul confiscated.

A Commission spokesman was unavailable to comment on the NFA’s call for a mushroom picking ban.