Current status
Hericium erinaceum grows mainly on the wounds of old living trees and on the ends of felled trunks in deciduous woods. It often grows high up on its host trees which are usually beech, but may also be oak. This species has an extremely local distribution in Britain, possibly because it is restricted to areas of woodland where there has been a long continuity of old trees. Fruiting bodies appear in late summer to autumn. Techniques are available for cultivating this edible species, and it is now being sold in supermarkets as a fashionable addition to cuisine.
This species is scattered but locally common in southern England, rare in the Midlands (only one record from Herefordshire) and is absent from other parts of the British Isles. There are 12 records from approximately seven sites since 1960. Recent records include sites in the New Forest, Windsor Great Park and Oxfordshire. Elsewhere, this species is widespread, but not common, throughout continental Europe and is also found in Mexico and North America.
Hericium erinaceum is classified as Endangered in Great Britain. It is specially protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is included on the provisional European red data list for fungi.
Current factors causing loss or decline
This species was lost from one site in the New Forest after the half-rotten host tree was cleared away by forest managers.
Collection for botanical and culinary purposes may be a threat to this species.
Current action
This species was added to Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 at the last review in 1998.
An identification book, which includes this species, has recently been published by RBG Kew.
Action plan objectives and targets
Maintain populations of this species at all extant sites.
Increase the extent of known populations if biologically feasible.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
None proposed.
Site safeguard and management
Devise and implement a management plan for each H. erinaceum site to ensure a long-term continuity of suitable host trees for this species, by protection of suitable young trees, the establishment of new pollards and re-pollarding existing host trees where appropriate. (ACTION: NE, FE)
Consider notifying as SSSIs sites with viable populations of H. erinaceum where this is consistent with selection guidelines and is necessary to ensure their long-term protection and appropriate management. (ACTION: NE)
Species management and protection
Assess the possibility of translocating this species to suitable host trees in the vicinity of extant colonies, if there is believed to be a lack of suitable habitat for natural colonisation at the existing site. (ACTION: NE)
Advisory
Advise landowners and land managers, and relevant agencies, of the presence and importance of H. erinaceum, its legal protection, specific management for conservation, any potentially damaging actions. Landowners and managers should have access to specialist advice if needed. (ACTION: NE)
Future Research and Monitoring
Visit all sites with records of H. erinaceum annually during the fruiting season (other than those sites where this species is definitely known to have been lost) in order to keep a close check on the population at each site and to monitor changes in habitat quality. (ACTION: NE, FE)
Promote research into the ecology of this species (including ex situ cultivation) in order to underpin future management for its conservation, and to inform techniques for possible translocation attempts. (ACTION: NE)
Communications and Publicity
Encourage mycologists to pass all records of H. erinaceum, including ecological information, to a national database by 2002. (ACTION: NE, JNCC)
Liaise with specialist societies to increase the awareness and identification skills of mycologists and other naturalists in relation to this species, through publishing articles or holding identification workshops. (ACTION: NE, JNCC)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume III: Plants and fungi (February 1999, Tranche 2, Vol III, p33)