A local mushroom picker says she stumbled upon a strange trailer-mounted machine in the Halivuori area — and is now calling on companies operating nearby to clean up their equipment and take responsibility for the mess left behind.
Marjukka Sundman, a regular mushroom picker in the Halivuori area, says an otherwise ordinary trip into the forest took an unexpected turn when she tripped over what she describes as a “strange trailer” left in the terrain.
According to Sundman, the trailer was not just ordinary scrap. Mounted on top of it was a large mechanical device with a distinctly military appearance. The side of the machine was marked with the letters RSV, and the equipment appeared to be at least partially damaged.
“It was a big trailer with some kind of mechanical, military-looking contraption on top of it. It looked like it had taken some damage. I have no idea who left it there, but it certainly did not belong in the middle of a mushroom forest,” Sundman says.
The incident became even more frustrating when the device reportedly activated after Sundman accidentally kicked it while trying to regain her balance.
“All of a sudden it started humming and producing exhaust fumes — or something like that. And that was the end of my mushroom harvest,” she says.
Sundman says her basket had already been filling up when the incident happened. According to her, the fumes and disturbance from the device ruined the mushrooms she had collected.
She is now calling on companies and operators active in the area to take responsibility for whatever equipment they bring into the forest.
“If someone brings machines, trailers or whatever else into the terrain, they should also take them away. It should not be the responsibility of ordinary people to trip over this kind of junk,” Sundman says.
Sundman describes herself as a regular visitor to Halivuori and says the area has changed noticeably in recent times. According to her, what used to be a peaceful mushroom-picking area has become increasingly disturbed by heavy vehicles and military activity.
“I have been coming here for years. Now the ground has been torn up, there are tracks from large machines, and helicopters and other big army equipment have become far too familiar a sight,” she says.
It remains unclear who owns the damaged RSV-marked device or why it was left in the area. No official explanation has yet been given for the trailer, the damaged terrain, or the reported exhaust-producing malfunction.
Sundman says she is not opposed to activity in the area as such, but believes basic responsibility should apply to everyone.
“The forest is not a dumping ground. If you break it, drive through it or leave something behind, then clean it up,” she says.
Sundman also points out that the trailer-mounted device appeared to be missing one of its wheels, which made the whole scene look even more abandoned and unsafe. She says she has been wondering whether the missing wheel might have ended up at a local repair shop — or whether someone there could at least provide a replacement.
“If it’s going to be left in the forest, it should at least have all its wheels. Maybe the wheel is at some local workshop, or maybe they can get a new one from there. Either way, it should not be lying around in that condition,” Sundman says.
Local mushroom picker Marjukka Sundman says her mushroom harvest was ruined after she stumbled upon a damaged RSV-marked device in the Halivuori area.