If, like us, you decide to come here to forage, please keep in mind that this is a wildlife conservation area and any lands that are protected by fences should be left untouched. That being said, there are plenty of little paths that lead off the main trail into the surrounding forests. Diverse species of trees, shrubs, flowers and mushrooms await nature enthusiasts in these rapidly changing landscapes. In one section, you might find yourself trodding on soft, mossy undergrowth in the company of towering pines. Fifty metres further, you’ll suddenly be stepping over slippery layers of fallen leaves between dense clusters of birch trees.

Thanks to autumn’s late awakening and some reliable rainfall in the weeks preceding our trip, we didn’t have to go far to find what we were looking for. By carefully skimming the little paths that lead off the main trail, we discovered seemingly endless clusters of fungi in myriad shapes and sizes. Inky caps, chanterelles, Steinpilze, boletes, toadstools—we certainly weren’t able to identify nearly half of what we stumbled across. In the end, Steinpilze were the only species we could safely single out. Luckily, we brought a paper bag to take home a handful for a hearty foraged soup. Nevertheless, we collected samples of a number of the other species we came across in a small basket, which we took back to Berlin to play around with some spore sprinting


Mushroom Identification App Recommendations
Pilze App is a free German app that provides detailed descriptions and photos of 200 endemic mushroom species. Shroomify is a free English app that helps you identify mushroom species by clicking through a fixed set of characteristics. The app also features exciting facts about the various species as well as tips for further reading.
Disclaimer
Many of the mushrooms featured in the photos in this article are not edible. Never consume mushrooms unless you are certain that you have identified them correctly and can guarantee that they are safe to eat.