The rest of Europe may be burning, but the UK is having a washout summer. 

And while that’s not great for kids on summer holidays (or their parents!), it’s turning out well for amateur mycologists, particularly those more interested in psilocybin-containing mushrooms.   

That’s because, due to all the rain and lack of sunshine and warmth (characteristic autumnal weather), magic mushroom season has started early!

While you can usually expect to find liberty caps, or libs (the UK’s most common psychedelic mushroom), from late August to November, here we are at the start of August with foragers reporting impressive hauls from their local spots. 

Meet the liberty cap

Known in the UK as Liberty Caps, or simply Libs (proper name: psilocybe semilanceata) is the most well-known and common magic mushroom found in the UK - although there are others. 

Standing 4-10cm tall, the mushroom has a distinct conical to bell-shaped cap that grows to about 2-2.5cm. It also has a small nipple-looking lump on the top of the cap. 

They generally appear alone or in small clusters on rich soil in pastures, meadows and parkland. They don’t grow on cow or sheep dung, but are common in areas where livestock may roam.

When is the usual magic mushroom season?

The magic mushroom season in the UK typically occurs during the autumn months, late September to November. 

This is because the conditions during this time of the year are favourable for the growth of the Psilocybe semilanceata mushroom, commonly known as the liberty cap.

However, we are now at the start of August and foragers are starting to find liberty caps inn their local spots - although most of these are currently in the north of the country. 

Early birds - what’s been found? 

If you scroll through the subreddit r/magicmushroomsUK, you’ll see a handful of posts from people showing off their finds. 

Here're a few examples, with locations when mentioned. 

These were found "on a hill" in South Wales.

These were found in late August in Ireland.

Found on "the moors" - no idea which moors, though. 

Where to find liberty caps?

You shouldn’t have to go far to find some magic mushrooms in the UK. Local parks, common recreational areas, race tracks, woodland and country paths are all potential growing spots. 

The most common type of magic mushroom to grow wild in the UK are Liberty Caps (psilocybe semilanceata). These small, brown shrooms are quite easy to recognise thanks to the small nipple-looking lump on the top of the cap. 

They generally appear alone or in small clusters on rich soil in pastures, meadows and parkland. They don’t grow on cow or sheep dung, but are common in areas where livestock may roam.

In fact, they are often found in London’s Hyde Park, Primrose Hill and Richmond Park.

You’ll maximise your luck by going out the day after a night of light rain. You may even want  to check the same locations more than once as mushrooms can spring up overnight. 

Dry weather and cold are not conducive to hunting mushrooms. If it’s uncharacteristically hot or there’s frost on the ground, don’t bother.

Are liberty caps legal in the UK?

Any fungus that contains psilocin or psilocybin is controlled in the UK. Therefore, liberty caps are illegal in the UK and their cultivation, possession or sale is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. 

Magic mushrooms are classed as Class A drugs in the UK, meaning the most severe punishment for possession is up to seven years and an unlimited fine. However, a sentence this harsh is extremely unlikely. 

In fact, if you were caught with a small amount for personal use – say up to 5 grams – you’d probably get away with a caution. 

It’s a different story if you get caught growing them, though. Technically, a life sentence is the maximum sentence for supply of any Class A drug, including magic mushrooms. In practice, however, longer sentences are only used for major traffickers, and rarely, if ever, for cases involving only mushrooms.

In fact, I’ve struggled to find any reports of people receiving any sort of punishment for growing magic mushrooms. But that could be because it’s so rare. 

In reality, if you are growing a small amount of magic mushrooms, like one or two grow boxes worth, you have little chance of getting caught and an even smaller chance of getting sentenced to time in prison. The most likely result is you’ll get a fine.

Magic mushroom spores and grow kits

Magic mushrooms may be illegal in the UK, but did you know that magic mushroom spores and grow kits are completely legal?

That’s right, microscopic magic mushroom spores contain no psilocybin, so they are not outlawed under the Drugs Act 2005 which made “fungi containing psilocybin” a Class A drug.

Therefore, magic mushroom spores can be easily bought online for “research purposes”, but you’ll be breaking the law if those spores happen to germinate and grow. 

Many online shops that sell spores also sell grow kits separately – all you need to do is inoculate the growing substrate with spores and pretty much wait (there’s slightly more to it than this, but not much). 

Conclusion

The magic mushroom season in the UK has started early this year due to the abundant rain and lack of sunshine and warmth, creating autumn-like conditions. 

Foragers are reporting impressive hauls of liberty caps, the most well-known and common magic mushroom found in the UK. 

However, remember that magic mushrooms, including liberty caps, are illegal in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession, sale, and cultivation of these mushrooms can result in legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment.

So be sure to eat them before the police catch you 😀