Might you have truffles in your wood?

[EnglishTruffles]

Hello,

Back in Victorian times there was a small truffle hunting industry centred on the beech woods of Southern England. The "last" truffle hunter retired in the 1930s. Over the last decade their has been a revival of interest in English truffles. You could have them growing naturally in your woods and not be aware of them.

I run The English Truffle Company (http://www.englishtruffles.co.uk) using trained dogs to search for wild growing truffles in woodlands in Southern England. We run “truffle hunting experience days” where we host guests for a day to learn all about truffles, experience a couple of hours of truffle hunting and sample the results. We work in partnership with landowners so they get some income from their woods:

● Truffle Sales – split 50/50
● Truffle Hunting Days - paying a fee per person for access to their woodland

The time required in woods is pretty minimal - a few hours approximately monthly in the season (c. September – c. February). We work in a sustainable, responsible manner and are fully insured.

To grow our business, we are seeking additional woodland sites in Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and within an hour or so of London. They should be / have:

● Species - Beech plantation preferred but also any of Oak, Hazel, Birch, Hazel or Hornbeam
● Soils – well drained, alkaline soils on chalk or limestone – not “clay with flints”
● Parking for several cars

Our biggest challenge is trying to identify landowners of suitable looking woodlands. If a partnership with us to help generate an income from your woods is something that you might be interested in would be delighted to talk to you.

Thanks,

James Feaver

[Rankinswood]

Hi James,

I note that Mellisa Rierra posted on the Oxfordshire Woodland Group web forum some years ago about truffle hunting with a dog in the Chiltern Hills.

Our woodland is 50% beech (with oak, hazel, birch and hornbeam), free draining, overlies chalk and has flints and clay in places.

You don't explain why flints and clay are no use ?

Rankinswood

[EnglishTruffles]

Hi Rankinswood,

Thanks for your response. I know Melissa very well.

Clay with flints gives acidic soils. Truffles require alkaline, free draining soils so you generally don't get them on clay with flints.

Your wood does sound quote interesting, if you would like to discuss off-line, please contact me via the web-site (http://www.englishtruffles.co.uk).

Best wishes,

James