Updated 11 September 2026
Parasol in Somerset, England: live forecast and 14-day outlook
Mushroom season in Somerset, England is looking good right now, with parasol sitting at 45% today. The typical season runs August to October, and we’re in September now
Fruits in late summer and autumn after warm spells broken by steady rain, typically when daytime temperatures sit around 12 to 20 C. A few days of moisture following a warm period usually triggers a flush.
Often found near the shaggy parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) on similar open ground, so check the stem carefully to tell them apart. In the same grassland and woodland edges in autumn you may also find field mushrooms and various waxcaps.
The large caps are best dipped in beaten egg and breadcrumbs and shallow-fried whole like a schnitzel. They also take well to being stuffed and baked, or sliced and fried in butter as a side; discard the fibrous stems, which stay tough.
Can be confused with members of the genus Chlorophyllum, especially Chlorophyllum brunneum and the American Chlorophyllum molybdites, which cause stomach upsets. The parasol is told apart by its tall snakeskin-patterned stem, a movable double-edged ring and flesh that does not turn red when cut; the dangerous lookalikes are stockier with a bulbous stem base and often bruise reddish. Avoid any small Lepiota species, several of which are deadly poisonous.
Somerset pairs the flat, watery expanse of the Somerset Levels with the limestone ridges of the Mendip Hills, the wooded Quantocks and the high moorland of Exmoor along its western edge. Between the uplands lie rolling farmland, river valleys and rhynes draining the low-lying moors. Sessile and pedunculate oak dominate, alongside ash, beech and hazel, with ancient oak woodland cloaking the Quantock and Exmoor combes. Mushrooms favour these damp wooded coombes, old hedgerows, grazed parkland and the unimproved pastures of the Levels.
The climate is mild and distinctly wet, with Atlantic fronts off the Bristol Channel bringing reliable rainfall and heavy autumn fog over the Levels. Frosts are light and the long, humid autumns keep the ground productive well into the season. Expect classic damp-woodland fungi in the Quantock and Exmoor oakwoods, with grassland species across the Levels and Mendip pastures. Much of the county is farmland or AONB, so foragers should stick to public access land and seek permission elsewhere.
FAQ
Are parasol out near me right now in Somerset, England?
Today the parasol forecast for Somerset, England is 45% and conditions are looking good. That is a live read for the region this September, and it shifts with the weather rather than following a fixed calendar. It tells you if it is worth heading out in Somerset, England right now.
What should I look for this week for parasol in Somerset, England?
This week in Somerset, England the forecast is 45% and looking good. Grows on the ground in grassy, open places such as pasture, meadows, road verges, woodland edges and clearings, often on poor or sandy soil. It favours sunny spots and is not tied to a particular tree. The 14-day outlook on the page shows whether conditions are climbing toward a flush or easing off, so you can pick your day.
Is it mushroom season in Somerset, England right now?
For parasol in Somerset, England, the typical season is August to October, and today the live forecast reads 45% with conditions looking good this September. So yes or no depends on the day and the weather, which is exactly what the forecast tracks.
Does ShroomCast tell me if a mushroom is safe to eat or identify it for me?
No. ShroomCast only forecasts timing, so it tells you when parasol are likely to be fruiting in Somerset, England. It does not identify mushrooms, and it cannot tell you whether anything you pick is safe to eat. Always confirm your own identification from a reliable source before eating anything.
How does the live parasol forecast for Somerset, England work?
We take the usual parasol season for Somerset, England (August to October) and weigh it against the weather right now and over the last few days. That gives you one live number, today 45% and looking good, plus a 14-day outlook and a normal-year line to compare against.
See the live regional forecast in the ShroomCast app.
This page shows today. The app gives you the full 14-day outlook for your area and all 14 species, so you can pick the right day before you drive out.
Scale: 0-20% very low · 20-40% low · 40-60% moderate · 60-80% high · 80-100% excellent. ShroomCast forecasts fruiting probability from weather, soil, forests and years of observations – a guide, not a guarantee of finds.
ShroomCast forecasts the region and the time of year. It cannot identify mushrooms for you, so confirm any species with a reliable source before eating it.