Updated 23 September 2026
When will Slippery Jack appear in Cumbria?
Slippery Jack usually come up in Cumbria from August to November, and right now they’re at 55% and looking good.
It fruits after warm late-summer and autumn rain, typically when day temperatures sit around 10 to 20C and the ground stays damp. A good soaking followed by mild nights usually brings flushes within a week or two.
It has a distinct membranous ring or partial veil remnant on the stem, an unusual feature among the slippery-capped Suillus boletes.
A decent edible with a mild flavour, good in mixed dishes, soups and sauces rather than as the star. Always peel off the slimy cap skin, which can otherwise cause loose stools, and discard the spongy pore layer on older specimens.
Other Suillus boletes such as the larch bolete (Suillus grevillei) and weeping bolete, all of which are also edible, so there are no dangerous poisonous lookalikes. The slimy brown cap, yellow pores and ringed stem set it apart from any toxic gilled mushroom.
Cumbria is England’s most mountainous county, dominated by the rugged Lake District fells with Scafell Pike and ribbon lakes like Windermere and Ullswater, fringed by the Pennines to the east and the Solway Firth and Irish Sea coast to the west. Between the high fells lie steep-sided dales, glacial valleys and patches of lowland pasture. The valleys hold ancient Atlantic oakwoods, famously in Borrowdale, mixed with birch, ash, hazel and holly, while the uplands carry large conifer plantations such as those in Grizedale and Thirlmere. Damp, mossy oakwoods, conifer edges and grazed pasture are the prime ground for fungi here.
This is one of the wettest parts of England, with a mild, oceanic climate and heavy rainfall trapped by the western fells, especially around Borrowdale and Wasdale. The persistent damp and humidity keep the ground reliably moist well into autumn. Cumbria is superb fungi country, rewarding walkers in its damp oakwoods, beneath conifers and on open fell grassland through a long autumn season. Bear in mind that much of the high ground sits within the Lake District National Park, so forage responsibly and respect access rules.
FAQ
When is slippery jack season in Cumbria, England?
In Cumbria, England, slippery jack season usually runs August to November. The exact start shifts year to year with rain and temperature, so some years they show up early and some years late. Right now (September) the live forecast for Cumbria, England reads 55% and conditions are looking good.
Where do slippery jack grow in Cumbria, England?
Grows in conifer woods, almost always with pine, on sandy or poor soil and often along forest tracks and clearings. Common in young plantations and appears in groups. They tend to come back to the same kinds of ground year after year, so once you find good cover it is worth checking again. ShroomCast does not share exact spots; it tells you the timing for Cumbria, England so you know when it is worth heading out.
How do I know slippery jack season has started in Cumbria, England?
Season usually kicks off after a warm spell followed by steady rain, with the first flushes appearing somewhere in the August to November window. The clearest sign is the live forecast lifting off zero into ‘just starting’ or ‘building’. For Cumbria, England it currently sits at 55% and is looking good.
Are slippery jack out near me right now in Cumbria, England?
Today the slippery jack forecast for Cumbria, England is 55% 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 Cumbria, England right now.
What should I look for this week for slippery jack in Cumbria, England?
This week in Cumbria, England the forecast is 55% and looking good. Grows in conifer woods, almost always with pine, on sandy or poor soil and often along forest tracks and clearings. Common in young plantations and appears in groups. The 14-day outlook on the page shows whether conditions are climbing toward a flush or easing off, so you can pick your day.
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.