Park's visitors mushroom in the sloe season
17th September 2011
Summer may have been and gone, but visitors are mushrooming at a top Lakeland holiday park - and also brambling and sloe-gathering too.
Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside says that this autumn could produce a bumper crop of tourists into the Lake District thanks to ideal conditions for wild food foraging.
The popularity of questing for free produce from nature's larder, says park director Henry Wild, could be a spin-off from wild food recipes being championed by celebrity TV chefs.
"Skelwith Fold recently received some national publicity about its popularity among foodies as a place to gather wild mushrooms and fruit such as blackberries and sloes," said Henry.
"We have no problem with guests roaming through our hundred-and-thirty acre grounds for free pickings, but we do ask them to obey three simple rules.
"They shouldn't gather more than they can make use of themselves, and secondly they should not strip plants or decimate an area as many of our wildlife species feed on fungi and berries.
"Thirdly, we suggest that visitors learn to tell the difference between similar looking edible and deadly varieties of mushroom, and never to send children out alone to forage," he said.
Holiday enquiries for September and October an Skelwith Fold are up on last year's figures, reports Henry, and adds that a similar story is being told by many other Cumbria holiday parks.
More than 100 parks in the Lake District are members of the British Holidays and Home Parks Association of which Henry is a branch director.
"Autumn's kaleidoscope of colours is always a big attraction in Cumbria, and the growing trend towards short breaks also helps to extend Cumbria's holiday season.
"Add to that the chance to enjoy mushroom omelettes, blackberry pie and sloe gin from foraging, and our tourism industry could finish up in good shape this year!" said Henry.
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