The UK’s First Non-Profit Mushroom Production Facility
The Mission
We’re building the UK’s first commercial, non-profit mushroom block production facility – based in the Forest of Dean and designed to support farmers, producers, and community growers across the UK.
By lowering production costs, we help make gourmet and medicinal mushrooms more affordable and widely available – through local markets, restaurants, and community food hubs.
To make this happen, we’re raising funds to complete the facility – building as a community and guided by purpose.
Our Core Objectives
- Supporting community mushroom farming
Creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and building resilient short-chain food networks. - Delivering training and education
Workshops, online courses, and hands-on learning that improve cultivation skills, food security, and personal wellbeing. - Partnering with educators and institutions
Collaborating with schools, colleges, and universities to inspire the next generation and deepen understanding of fungi’s role in our world. - Funding practical research
Exploring how mushrooms support health, nutrition, and ecological regeneration. - Immersive Experiences
Leading foraging walks, woodland learning, and mindful experiences that restore connection to the natural world.
As a non-profit, every penny raised helps build the facility, expand education, support research, and reconnect communities with nature.
We have the site, the plan, and the expertise – now we need your support.
Our Vision
Across Europe, demand for gourmet and medicinal mushrooms is rising fast, with large-scale facilities emerging to meet demand. Belgium’s Eclo recently invested €4.7 million in a high-tech mushroom block production facility, highlighting the scale of the growing market.
We fully support what Eclo has achieved abroad, but believe the UK needs a non-profit alternative – one that reinvests in education, sustainability, and community initiatives. By remaining non-profit, we ensure that growers of all sizes benefit – building a stronger, more resilient cultivation community.
How You Can Help
Our crowdfunding campaign is launching soon. With your support, we can build something truly transformative.
1. Help us spread the word
Share this page to reach growers, educators, and supporters across the UK.
2. Volunteer your skills
Whether it’s marketing, outreach, or fundraising – your time and talent can make a real difference.
3. Introduce us to allies
Know someone who shares our vision? A quick intro could go a long way.
Why We’re Fundraising
We’re raising funds to cover essential equipment purchases, facility setup, staffing, and the transition to a non-profit. Everything needed to get the facility fully operational – from preparing the site and commissioning equipment to building teams to manage ramp-up, operations, and customer support.
Key Equipment & Infrastructure
- Our 6000L Autoclave & Steam Boiler – For large-scale processing.
- Automated Bagging & Spawning Machines – To streamline operations, reducing costs for growers.
- Cleanroom Facilities & Incubation Spaces – To ensure contamination-free, high-yielding products.
Operational & Start-up Costs
- Non-Profit Transition – Legal and administrative costs for restructuring.
- Facility Fitout – Preparing the space for equipment installation and production.
- Equipment Commissioning – Installation, testing, and calibration of key machinery.
- Staffing & Management – To oversee key operations.
- Essential Overheads – Ensuring a smooth launch.
Share, Grow, Heal – A Simple Act for Meaningful Change
By sharing our mission on your social media channels, you’re helping more people experience the healing power of mushrooms, supporting better health, stronger communities, and a more connected future for all. Every share spreads awareness of how mushrooms can nourish the body, enhance cognition, boost energy, and promote overall wellbeing.
Together, we’re strengthening local food systems and fostering a more sustainable world.
As a heartfelt thank you, we’ll send you and a friend/family member a voucher for a limited-edition grow-at-home mushroom kit, once we’ve started production. Experience the transformative power of fungi first-hand.
What you have to do
Step 1: Share this page on your social media channels using the buttons above. This helps us increase awareness of our cause.
Step 2: Enter your details using our simple online form below.
Step 3: Once we’re fully operational later in the year, we’ll send both you and a friend a gift card to redeem a free grow-at-home mushroom kit.
By sharing, you’re not just helping us grow, you’re supporting our mission – helping to build a future where mushrooms play a central role in nutrition, healing, and community wellbeing. Thank you ❤️
View the Range
- Shiitake – Supporting immunity, cardiovascular health, and overall vitality.
- Pink Oyster – Beautifully deep colour, rich in antioxidants.
- Blue Oyster – A nutritious source of protein and beneficial compounds.
- Lion’s Mane – Enhancing cognitive function, memory, and focus.
- Pioppino – Deep umami flavour and immune-supporting benefits.
- Reishi – Revered for its adaptogenic, stress-reducing, and longevity-boosting properties.
Supporting Existing Growers
Whether you’re a commercial or hobbyist mushroom grower, you can secure access to industry-leading fruiting blocks, grow kits and supplies at unbeatable prices – expand your product range, reduce your overheads, and enable growth.
We have limited production capacity, and demand is high.
– secure your supply today –
Wholesale & White-label Supply
Bulk Wholesale Supply – Reliable, no-commitment access to industry-leading, highly supplemented fruiting blocks, grow kits, sterilised grain, and substrates at market-leading rates.
White-label & Contract Manufacturing – Customised supplies under your existing brand – no changes to your product lines.
Prices
We supply highly-supplemented 3 kg ready-to-fruit blocks, designed for strong commercial yields.
- Block cost: £2.70 – £5.50 (excluding delivery), depending on order volume – block weight: 3kg.
- Bulk rate: £900 per tonne (~333 blocks)
- Strains see our current gourmet/medicinal mushroom offerings here
(We can source others on request)
Sterilised Grain / Substrate: Visit our listings for bulk quantities
Mushroom Grow Kits: Wholesale prices from £5 per kit, prices depending on size, type, order quantities, packaging and artwork specifications.
How You Benefit
- Reduce Labour & Overheads
Outsourcing production to us will significantly lower your labour and overhead costs. - Free Up Valuable Space
Eliminate your storage and incubation needs, allowing you to expand your fruiting capacity and productivity. - Customised Substrates & Testing
With our support, use your spawn or cultures to trial and refine bespoke substrate blends at scale. - Flexible Ordering, No Minimum Quantities
Order exactly what you need, precisely when you need it, improving cash flow and operational efficiency. - Reliable UK-based Supply
Avoid the high shipping costs, minimum order requirements and delays from importing.
Get Supplies for Free
Join us in our Crowdfunding campaign, help us raise awareness of our cause and benefit from free fruiting blocks and supplies.
- Crowdfunding Donors can Support you Directly – We match all donations you help us raise with store credit, which you can spend on mushroom cultivation supplies, training, or consultancy when we’re operational – no financial commitment needed.
- (Optional) Link Joint Campaigns – Create your own CrowdFunder campaign, offer your own incentives/rewards, such as workshops or grow kits and directly link it to ours, we’ll assign all dontations as credit on your account with us.
Fundraising Support & Collaboration: We provide personalised crowdfunding assistance making fundraising effortless. Simply promote our campaign via your social channels and existing network.
Get Started Today
- Pre-order Supplies – Reserve your supply at preferential early-bird pricing.
- Letter of Intent / Purchase Order – Send us a non-binding commitment to help us plan our production.
- Promote the Campaign – Encourage your audience to back us; we’ll reciprocate by promoting your business.
For Questions or How to Get Involved:
Supporting Existing Suppliers
With rapid market growth and new competitors emerging, we’re here to support businesses of all types and sizes. We offer affordable, flexible supply solutions – helping you scale efficiently without high overheads or long-term commitments.
As a Community Interest Company, we prioritise low prices over profits, ensuring supplies remain affordable while sustaining our community-driven mission.
We have limited production capacity, and demand is high.
– secure your supply today –
Prices & Bulk Wholesale Supply
Reliable, no-commitment access to industry-leading, highly supplemented fruiting blocks, grow kits, sterilised grain, and substrates at market-leading rates.
3kg Mushroom Fruiting Blocks: Price £2.70 – £5.50 depending on order volume, excl. delivery. Weight: 3kg.
Sterilised Grain / Substrate: Visit our listings for bulk quantities
Mushroom Grow Kits: Wholesale prices from £5 per kit, prices depending on size, type, packaging and artwork specifications.
List Your Products on Our Website
Our website will soon be transformed into a national mushroom-focused marketplace directly supporting collaborating businesses. We can list your product lines and direct customers straight to your website. By promoting your products and services, we boost your visibility, increase sales opportunities, and help you maintain full control over pricing and customer relationships.
Our primary focus will be B2B and wholesale supply to our partnered businesses. By connecting buyers directly with suppliers, we’re strengthening the industry, making it easier for businesses to scale while keeping costs low.
White-label & Contract Manufacturing
Customised supplies under your existing brand – no changes to your product lines.
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Storage, packing, and dispatch solutions, freeing you to focus on growing your business.
Overflow Production Support
Flexible capacity to meet peak-season demands or temporary production gaps, without long-term commitments.
Get Started Today
- Pre-order Supplies – Reserve your materials now at preferential early-bird pricing.
- Letter of Intent / Purchase Order – Send us a non-binding commitment to help us plan our production.
- Promote the Campaign – Encourage your audience to back us; we’ll reciprocate by promoting your business.
For Questions or How to Get Involved:
Support our CrowdFunder Campaign
To launch start of April 2025.
Share to Buzz… 🐝
Click share to post this campaign on your social media and help others discover us organically.
Follow us on our channels for updates & giveaways.
LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW 👇
Supporting Community Farms, Schools & Organisations
If you’re part of a community farm, school, or grassroots organisation, Maya Mushrooms can help you add gourmet and medicinal mushrooms to your offering – with no upfront costs and no specialist equipment required.
We’ve designed our model to make it as easy as possible to get growing, raise funds, and involve your wider community.
We have limited production capacity, and demand is high.
– secure your supply today –
Add Mushrooms to What You Already Do
- Sell Fresh Mushrooms – All Year Round
Gourmet and medicinal mushrooms are a high-value, fast-growing crop that can be grown all year round. Once your setup is dialled in, you can harvest regularly – even daily – depending on the size of your fruiting space. Add a reliable income stream to your farm shop, veg stalls, CSA boxes or local deliveries.
Plus, the spent mushroom substrate can be dug into your soil, where it supports the root systems of your vegetables and plants – improving soil health, crop yields, and microbial activity over time. - Pre-Inoculated Mushroom Logs
We also offer pre-inoculated mushroom logs – a low-maintenance way to grow gourmet mushrooms without any specialist setup. Just place your log in a shady spot outside, and let nature do the rest.
Logs fruit seasonally, in line with outdoor conditions – giving you a hands-off way to enjoy fresh mushrooms at home, on your farm, or as part of a growing project. Depending on the size and species, a single log can produce mushrooms for several years.
They’re a beautiful, long-lasting addition to school gardens, forest school sessions, community allotments or nature-based workshops. - Run Community Workshops or Experience Days
Host hands-on mushroom growing sessions for local groups, volunteers or schools. These can be free or ticketed – generating income while building awareness and skills in your community. We’ll help you make them simple, fun, and engaging. - Offer Grow Kits – With Your Branding
Order mushroom grow kits in bulk at wholesale prices, perfect for local sales, events or educational initiatives. Kits can be customised or even white-labelled with your organisation’s branding – helping to strengthen your visibility and mission.
Prices & Profit Margins
We supply highly-supplemented 3 kg ready-to-fruit blocks, designed for strong commercial yields — giving your growing space the best start possible.
We also offer pre-inoculated, mushroom logs, so you can start cultivating mushrooms without any dedicated fruiting chambers, outside fruiting, harvesting seasonally and naturally. Depending on size,1 inoculated log can fruit for many years.
This guide outlines typical costs, yields, and resale opportunities — whether you’re selling at markets, through veg boxes, or supplying local cafes.
Quick facts:
- Block cost: £2.70 – £5.50 (excluding delivery), depending on order volume – block weight: 3kg.
- Bulk rate: £900 per tonne (~333 blocks)
- Strains shown below are just the start — see our current gourmet mushroom offerings here
(We can source others on request)
Example Yields & Gross Profit Margins
All profit margins below are based on a block cost of £4.
GPM = Gross Profit Margin.
| Mushroom Strain | Expected Yield per 3kg Block | Wholesale Price (per kg) | GPM – Wholesale | Retail Price (per kg) | GPM – Retail |
| Oyster (Blue, Grey, Pearl, Yellow) | 1.1 kg | £7 – £16 | 92% – 340% | £10 – £14 | 175% – 670% |
| Lion’s Mane | 0.8 kg | £15 – £32 | 200% – 540% | £18 – £22 | 260% – 924% |
| King Oyster | 0.8 kg | £11 – £24 | 120% – 380% | £14 – £18 | 180% – 620% |
| Shiitake | 1.1 kg | £10 – £24 | 175% – 560% | £14 – £18 | 285% – 889% |
| Maitake | 0.8 kg | £13 – £28 | 160% – 460% | £16 – £20 | 220% – 700% |
| Turkey Tail | 0.8 kg | £21 – £48 | 320% – 860% | £30 – £36 | 500% – 1500% |
| Reishi | 0.8 kg | £26 – £60 | 420% – 1100% | £35 – £40 | 600% – 1900% |
| Enoki | 0.9 kg | £10 – £22 | 125% – 396% | £12 – £15 | 170% – 570% |
| Coral Tooth | 1.1 kg | £14 – £32 | 285% – 780% | £18 – £22 | 395% – 1110% |
Every context is different — and that’s okay.
Our aim is to give you a ballpark, not a promise. We’re always happy to talk through margins, marketing, and how to make mushrooms work for your space.
How It Works – and How You Benefit
- Your Crowdfunder Impact = Your Credit
Every donation you help us raise is matched as future credit on your account – to spend on fruiting blocks, training, or setup support. This means your community can fund your first mushroom crop, without any financial risk. - Use the Space You Already Have
All you need is a small, clean area – from a spare corner of an existing room to a shed, outbuilding or shipping container. Mushroom growing scales up easily and doesn’t require a large investment to get started. We’ll help you make it work for your space. - We Support You at Every Step
Our team can offer consultation, troubleshooting, and training to make sure your growing journey is successful. Whether you’re completely new or have experience growing food, mushrooms are easy to pick up – and we’ll help you learn the nuanced details. - Link to Our CrowdFunder or Run Your Own
Use our campaign tools to spread the word, or launch a linked CrowdFunder for your own group. We’ll support you either way – and track any funds you raise so they count as credit for your setup.
What You Can Grow
We’ll be supplying a variety of gourmet and medicinal mushroom strains – each selected for flavour, beauty, and ease of growth. These include popular varieties like oyster, lion’s mane, shiitake, and more.
Explore our upcoming strains: mayamushrooms.co.uk/category/gourmet-mushrooms
Common Questions
How often do we harvest?
Once your setup is running, mushrooms can be harvested year-round, with some fruiting spaces producing daily harvests when fully optimised.
How much space do we need?
As little as a square metre is enough to get started. The system is modular and scalable, and we can help you plan your space.
Is this suitable for schools or kids?
Absolutely. Mushroom growing is clean, hands-on, and exciting to watch. It’s perfect for educational projects — and safe for supervised environments.
We’re not experts — is this too technical?
Not at all. The process can be kept beautifully simple — and if you’re already growing food, you’ll pick it up fast. We also find many passionate local growers are happy to volunteer their time just to be part of a meaningful project.
Have more ideas for collaboration? We’re always open to suggestions and keen to explore new partnerships.
For Questions or How to Get Involved:
Environmental Impact & Sustainability
It’s our mission to significantly reduce the UK’s reliance on imported cultivation supplies, reducing food miles, cutting the carbon footprint, and lowering costs for growers. By using an industrial autoclave and automated systems, we’ll minimise waste, increase efficiency, and optimise production.
Mushrooms naturally recycle organic waste, regenerate soil health, and capture carbon. We aim to support regenerative agriculture by repurposing agricultural by-products into sustainable growing medium, promoting circular economy practices.
❤️
Collaboration is essential to achieving our sustainability goals. We invite growers, researchers, environmentalists, and innovators to share their expertise and actively participate in shaping sustainable mushroom cultivation.
Future Environmental Goals
Our long-term objectives include:
Conservation of Native UK Mushroom Species
Supporting biodiversity through research, cultivation, and educational projects.
Mycoremediation Research
Exploring fungi’s potential to restore contaminated soils and ecosystems.
Organic Certification
Attaining official organic status for the highest sustainability standards.
Agricultural By-product Utilisation
Transforming farm waste into sustainable cultivation materials.
Carbon Neutrality
Implementing energy-efficient processes and carbon offset programmes.
Closed-Loop Waste Systems
Developing composting solutions for spent substrates.
Regenerative Agroforestry
Partnering to integrate fungi into rewilding and woodland restoration.
Low-Waste Packaging
Transitioning to biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable packaging.
Water Conservation
Incorporating rainwater harvesting and efficient water management.
Public Fungal Education
Expanding awareness about fungi’s role in ecosystem resilience and climate mitigation.
3D Model & Facility Floorplans
Our facility is ready to become the UK’s premier source of high-quality substrates, sterile grain, and ready-to-fruit mushroom blocks.
- 8,000 sq. ft Dedicated Production Space: Designed specifically for sterilisation, incubation, and large-scale mushroom cultivation processes.
- Fully Equipped Infrastructure: With all utilities and major works complete.
- Strategic Location (Forest of Dean): Ideal for fast, cost-effective distribution nationwide.
- Scalable Footprint: Ample space and units available on site for future expansion without relocation.
- Immediate Readiness: With infrastructure complete, equipment procurement can begin immediately, allowing for rapid production start-up upon delivery.
With your support, we can turn our space into a purpose-built facility that nurtures good vibes.
Core Equipment We Need
Below are photos of the essential equipment we’re fundraising for.
Visit our dedicated Equipment Section for more details.
Production Capacity & Future Expansion
Initial Monthly Production Goals:
- Ready-to-Fruit Mushroom Blocks (3 kg): 9,400 blocks
- Grow-at-Home Kits (1.5 kg): 5,000 kits
- Plain Sterilised Substrate Blocks (3 kg): 2,000 blocks
- Sterilised Grain for Spawn (1.5kg bags): 5,000 units
Future Scalability & Expansion:
- Designed for Growth: Our automated equipment will be capable of producing 500-600 blocks/hour.
- Scalable Capacity: The autoclave can run up to two cycles daily, 7 days a week, multiplying initial output by 2.8x, if required.
- Room for Expansion: Ample space is available on-site to smoothly scale up as market demand increases.
Our production facility is designed for significant scalability, with the ability to more than double output by increasing autoclave cycles and expanding incubation space.
For Questions or How to Get Involved:
LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW 👇
Share to Buzz… 🐝
Click share to post this campaign on your social media and help others discover us organically.
Follow us on our channels for updates & giveaways.
Support our CrowdFunder Campaign
To launch start of April 2025.
Join the Team
We’re seeking collaborators and volunteers who share our passion and vision. Experienced or simply enthusiastic, we’d love you to get involved:
Paid / Volunteer Positions
Marketing & Promotion
Operations & Strategy
Mushroom Production
Tech & IT Support
Finance & Fundraising
Infrastructure & Facilities
Collaborate
Supporting your work through mutual promotion, partnerships, or knowledge-sharing – let’s grow together.
Use Our Space
Our space is available for educational workshops, training, and events.
Mushroom Cultivation
Forestry & Regenerative Farming
Sustainable Food Networks
Health, Wellbeing & Nutrition
Meet the Founder
Maya Mushrooms is led by Paul, founder and director, who transformed a humble shipping container start-up into one of the UK’s leading mushroom cultivation suppliers.
To everyone who has been part of this journey – thank you. Your support, encouragement, and belief in our mission have allowed us to grow. We’re on the brink of something truly transformative.
The generosity of people will empower communities, unlock opportunities, and drive positive ecological impact for years to come. Thank you for being part of our journey ❤️❤️ – Paul x
Funding Goals and Opportunities
Currently, Maya Mushrooms UK CIC aims to raise at least £398,000 through three anticipated crowdfunding rounds (approx. £133,000 each) to establish the UK’s first non-profit mushroom block production hub. Funds will purchase essential equipment and cover initial setup costs.
If our targets are exceeded, additional funds will allow us to expand our product range, hire support staff, further upgrade equipment, and accelerate our impact.
Working closely with industry partners, community farms, and existing businesses, with your help, we are confident we can achieve our goals.
Investor & Sponsorship Opportunities
We offer attractive options for core investors contributing £50,000 or more, providing revenue-based loan repayments with returns between 5 – 10%, depending on investment size and terms. This allows investors to earn financial returns while directly supporting sustainable agriculture and local communities.
Core investors also have the option to join our board, influencing strategy and guiding the project’s long-term success.
Commercial sponsorship packages offer businesses visibility within the rapidly growing sustainable food, health, and wellness markets, aligning your brand directly with our positive community-driven mission.
If you’re interested in investing, sponsoring, or collaborating, please contact us to discuss further.
Financial Snapshots
Questions? Get in Touch!
Do you have questions about funding, partnerships, or anything else? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
For Questions or How to Get Involved:
Hi Paul – a really interesting project you have going on. I'm a commercial property developer looking to get my teeth into a new venture and feel I could offer some assistance to your cause. Drop me an email to chat.
Keep it up – Ed
Thanks Ed, email sent. Speak soon. Paul 🙏
Do you sell fresh mushrooms and can I come do a growing workshop with you?
Hi Julie,
Thanks for the comment. We are not currently selling fresh mushrooms, and are putting our efforts into raising awareness for our campaign at the moment, so not offering workshops, yet. But something we will imminently offer in the future. I'll keep you posted.
All the best,
Paul
Finally, it's been a long time coming! Why hasn't anyone done this before?! This is exactly what is needed in the marketplace… a grass roots movement to bring about more healing in this world. Good on ya! I'll keep my eyes peeled! Wishing you the best.
Peeley eyes 👀
Hi Dan,
Thank you for your kind words and appreciation. Yes, it's something we've been working towards for some time now, so hopefully with some backing from the community, we'll be able to make our vision a reality and help support the growers out there!
Take care of yourself,
Paul
Simply incredible work guys! Full support my end!
❤️❤️