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Fungi to be with was formed in the early 1990's to fulfill a role that up until that time and even now is scarcely covered. That role was to help the interested people of Greater London and the home counties, with an emphasis on fungi, connect/reconnect with the natural environment surrounding them. When I first became interested in mushrooms, during the 1980's I took it upon myself to begin the long process of getting to know these unusual organisms. Following my initial forays into the fungi world I realised the need for 'fungi to be with'. "How many other people, like me, were looking for an introduction to the mushrooms that they came across whilst out walking?" Some ten years or so on fungi to be with is now affiliated with the British Mycological Club (BMS) and is recognised as the longest standing, London Fungus Group. Some of the collections of fungi, made by foray attendees and myself, are deposited at the herbarium in Kew Gardens. Species lists are drawn up following each foray, which are then given over to the governing bodies of the areas in which the forays take place, providing an ongoing record of the fungi that occur or re-occur in those areas over time. Recording began in 1996 and the successful continuation of these records have been helping to produce a clearer picture of the distribution of fungi across the home counties and in London's parks and woodlands.
Records from Hampstead Heath reached and passed 500 species in 2010, the species database can be viewed by visiting the Archive page, link - Hampstead Heath Survey. All species of basidiomycete are linked to the existing checklist for Great Britain and Ireland. Just click on the species name and you will be taken to the checklist where you will find more information on nomenclature, status, distribution and habitat.
Twitter with 'fungi to be with' and lets talk fungi Follow @fungitobewith The numbers following the dates, indicate remaining places. Otherwise if not fully booked then there are plenty of spaces still available. Spring Forays, & Fungi Workshops for beginners 2012 Saturday 12th May: Fungi Workshop for Beginners
Saturday 15th September: Foray - Hampstead Heath- Saturday 22nd September: Fungi Workshop for Beginners - Hampstead Heath- Sunday 23rd September: Foray - Puttenham Common, Surrey-
Autumn Forays and Workshops 2012 Sunday 30th September: Foray -Epping Forest, London/Essex- Saturday 6th October:Fungi Workshop for beginners-Hampstead,London- Sunday 7th October: Foray -Wimbledon Common, Surrey- Saturday 13th Oct: Foray - New Forest, Hampshire- Sunday 14th October: Foray - Puttenham Common, Surrey- Saturday 20th October: Beginners Fungi Workshop - Hampstead Heath, London- Sunday 21st October: Foray - Epping Forest, London- Saturday 27th October: Foray - Hampstead Heath, London- Sunday 28th October: Foray - New Forest, Hampshire- Saturday 3rd November: Foray - Epping Forest, London- Sunday 4th November: Breakfast Foray - Hampstead Heath, London- Saturday 10th November: Beginners Fungi Workshop - Hampstead Heath, London- Sunday 11th November: Foray - Epping Forest, London/Essex- Saturday 17th November:Foray - Hampstead Heath, London
All forays start at 10am and finish around 2pm. (Except for the Breakfast Foray - 8.30am start) If you are on the mailing list you will receive a booking form in Jan/Feb for the spring/summer activities and in August for autumn, either by email or post.
Picture by Anni Burnell |
