Foraging, often envisioned as a peaceful pastime set amidst England’s serene rural landscapes, has unexpectedly become the backdrop for a heated dispute between two prominent British truffle enthusiasts.

At the heart of this conflict is Melissa Waddingham, from a family with a long history of truffle hunting, who alleges that her former apprentice, Ben Sweet, has exploited her knowledge to launch his own venture. Furthermore, she accuses him of committing one of the most severe offenses in the foraging community—appropriating her confidential truffle locations.

The tension escalated when Sweet hosted the UK Truffle Festival in Hickstead, West Sussex, last weekend. This event, organized just a week prior to Waddingham’s own Great British Truffle Festival in the nearby village of Plumpton, drew hundreds of attendees.

As a consequence, Waddingham has observed a significant drop in ticket sales for her event, scheduled for tomorrow, falling short of her anticipated turnout.

The feud came to a head when the UK Truffle Festival in Hickstead, West Sussex – which is run by Mr Sweet – was held last weekend, just one week before Miss Waddingham’s Great British Truffle Festival in nearby Plumpton.

His festival attracted hundreds of visitors last Saturday. As a result, Miss Waddingham says, ticket sales for her Great British Truffle Festival, to be held tomorrow, have been well down on what she was expecting. 

Ms Waddingham, who has appeared on BBC Countryfile and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, said she was ‘absolutely devastated and heartbroken’ when she discovered the clash.

 ‘I passed my knowledge on to Ben, showing him how to train dogs, where to hunt for truffles and leading him to the best and most prized truffle spots in Sussex,’ she added.

Melissa Waddingham’s family has hunted truffles for generations

Ben Sweet, a former marketing consultant who went bankrupt in 2020, said he decided on a career change after Covid

‘I feel he has taken that knowledge and used it to usurp my position. It’s very, very upsetting.’

Ms Waddingham, a member of the British Mycological Society and Association of British Foragers, said: ‘I learnt what I know by going out foraging for chanterelles with my grandfather in France when I was a child in Champagne, France.’

Mr Sweet, a former marketing consultant who went bankrupt in 2020, said he decided on a career change after Covid.

He maintained he had been interested in foraging and truffling for several years and linked up with Ms Waddingham in 2022. Together they co-founded and successfully ran the UK Truffle Festival for foragers and mushroom fans.

However, the pair parted ways amid a difference of opinion over the direction the festival was taking, deciding to each host a separate event.

Mr Sweet retained the festival name and launched a podcast and YouTube channel, as well as setting himself up as a full-time dog trainer.

He said: ‘I learned from many people and experiences on my way into truffle hunting and dog training, and Melissa was one of the influences along that path.

‘I’ve always been open about my intentions and feel grateful for everyone who has helped me grow, but the foundations of my work were in place long before we collaborated.

‘When it became clear we weren’t a good fit as business partners, I tried to handle things openly and fairly so we could both move forward in our own ways.

Dogs take part in Truffle Challenges: The world of foraging has found itself rocked by a bitter war between two of Britain’s leading truffle hunters

‘There was never any attempt to take anything from her, just a desire for an honest and respectful separation.’

‘We chose our festival date in January, and I have documented evidence showing exactly how that process unfolded. We adjusted it only to avoid both festivals landing on the same day. It was an honest scheduling decision, not an attempt to undermine her in any way.’

Mr Sweet disputed the claim he continued to use secret truffle spots introduced to him by Ms Waddingham. 

He said: ‘Once you have independently identified a woodland as suitable for truffles, being taken there by someone later does not make it their territory. No one can own a wild truffle site.

‘The places in question are not secret in the truffle community.’

Ms Waddingham, who has also appeared on Food Unwrapped and Marcus Wareing’s Tales From A Kitchen Garden, said: ‘It is very upsetting we’ve become embroiled this way as it has always been my aim to be inclusive, sharing knowledge and bringing the community together not dividing it.’