About this episode

This episode explores Britain's hidden psychedelic history through the lens of native mushrooms with historian Robert Dickins.

What if Britain's fields were hiding a secret psychedelic past in plain sight? In this episode of Roots and All , I'm joined by historian and publisher Robert Dickins to explore the surprising story of our native mushrooms—from how they grow to the cultural and legal forces that have shaped our relationship with them. It's a fascinating glimpse into a little-known side of Britain's natural and social history. Benny's Insect of the Week: The Orange Ladybird Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk and get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links Psilocybe Pickers by Robert Dickins - Psychedelic Press, 2025 About: Robert Dickins, PhD, is a historian and publisher, whose works examines the social and literary history of psychoactive substances and altered states of experience. He is the author of Cobweb of Trips: A Literary History of Psychedelics (2024) and Psilocybe Pickers: A Short History of Bemushroomed Britons (2025), and is currently researching the connection between tripping and gardens for a forthcoming project. He is on the steering committee for Breaking Convention, Europe's largest psychedelic…

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Wilson

Guest: Robert Dickins

Topics covered

• psychedelics
• mushrooms
• cultural history
• legal history
• gardening
• nature

Keywords

• psychedelic history
• mushrooms
• Britain
• cultural forces
• legal forces
• gardens
• nature

Sponsors

roastinghouse.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Psychedelic Press, Breaking Convention

Books & works: Psilocybe Pickers, Cobweb of Trips: A Literary History of Psychedelics

Places: Vale of Pewsey

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