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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Lee Dalgetty

Astonished West Lothian local finds mushroom as big as a sheep while out foraging

A huge collection of the UK's largest mushrooms has been found by a man in West Lothian.

Mateusz Sztajnert-Bluj, who lives in Whitburn, made the discovery in Beecraigs Country Park over the weekend. He's had an interest in foraging since he was young, however, began getting more involved a few years ago.

Despite this, he hadn't seen a collection quite so large before this.

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Mateusz, 36, told Edinburgh Live: "I'm sure it is Dryad's Saddle.

"But it was the first time I've ever found it. I even didn't take any of it home, as I heard that it gets corky as it matures.

"I found it in Beecraigs County Park on a walk."

Dryad's Saddle is considered the largest capped mushroom in the country, and often appears early in the year sometimes lasting until the end of summer. It's often found growing from dead logs and stumps.

Mateusz told us his interest in foraging began at a young age. He continued: "I live in the Heartlands, a new estate in Whitburn. My foraging adventure started, as it does for most Polish people, when I was a young boy. I guess we have it in our genes.

"My family and I used to walk in the woods. That's where my basic skills comes from.

"About three years back I started to read about foraging on websites, such as wildfooduk.com, and I learned some more. I joined some Facebook groups to share some experiences, and get help with identifying mushrooms I didn't see when I was younger.

"I guess that's my foraging adventure so far."

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