Bucks Fungus Group have circulated a seasonal round-up to members. Here are the highlights.

BFG is one of the largest if not the largest fungus group in the UK! They have held 15 walks over the last 3 months – a record number for an autumn season – including some mid-week as well as weekend events. These walks have generated 1350 records which will be added to the national database over the winter. Stoke Common and Burnham Beeches topped the lists with 120 and 118 species respectively and Penn Wood with its grassland areas was not far behind. 26 species new to the county list were recorded. All this in what was felt to be a generally poor season.

These walks are now over for the year, but the Members’ Finds webpage is still active and the BFG website indicates many ways to further your mycological skills and knowledge, whatever your level of interest. You will find a new set of ‘Foundations of Field Mycology’ a series of documents designed to equip all-comers, either with or without previous mycological knowledge, with the tools to advance their interest. Keep an eye on the website for events next year. www.bucksfungusgroup.org.uk

If you missed it, you might also like to watch the programme Fungi: the web of life with Merlin Sheldrake for some wonderful time-lapse photography of fungi, which is available on BBC iplayer.

Linda Murphy
Dec 2024