Forays

The Dorset Fungus Group is a member of the Association of British Fungus Groups and is involved in the mycological activities of the ABFG.

DFG leaders, Mark Pike, Zina Roworth & Derek Monk are full members of the ABFG.

Please remember that all grid references given usually refer to the car parking areas/meeting points and NOT necessarily the foray sites themselves so bear this in mind please!

JUST CLICK ON THE GRID REF FOR THE FORAY IN QUESTION AND IT WILL BRING UP THE LOCATION ON STREETMAP. USE THE ZOOM CONTROLS FOR MORE DETAILS.

Also be aware that some sites do have difficult terrain to traverse and if this is so it will be noted in the site details below. Please also wear suitable footwear, often Wellington boots are ideal or good tough walking boots. Nearly all of these sites will of course be very muddy and possibly quite slippery after rainfall. See also "About the DFG"

Please could members remember to bring along with them their membership cards, ESPECIALLY to the Moors Valley Country Park event as you will need it to obtain free parking! This is usually about £4.50 so it will certainly pay you to bring it!

Please also note that the DFG is very conscious of car-sharing when travelling to/from foray venues and we actively encourage it wherever possible, especially due to some of the sites we visit having limited parking facilities. So please whenever possible could members get together to try and arrange this amongst themselves if they are coming from the same direction etc.

If anyone wishes to supply their details (phone numbers etc) please get in contact with any of the DFG officers listed on the contacts page and we can pass the information on. Many thanks.

Click on the mushrooms below for a printable PDF version of the 2011 main season foray list!

Head up along the A343 from the Darby's Corner roundabout towards the Gravel Hill traffic lights but look for a quite well concealed entrance to the wood on the left just before you reach these lights. Turn in to this narrow track and go right to the end car-park. Plenty of room for a dozen plus vehicles.

For this foray follow the A35 towards Dorchester until the dual carriageway narrows to single lane. There is a left turning here to Higher Bockhampton, proceed up this narrow road for approx quarter of a mile and turn left at the signpost to Hardy's Cottage. There is a good sized car-park on the right. The venue itself is pretty easy going but does have a couple of slopes and as usual can get very muddy.

A new foray for 2011 which could prove very interesting? Take the A352 Wool to Dorchester road until you reach a pub on your left at a staggered crossroads. Turn right here and drive for approx half a mile and the entrance to the former Atomic Energy Establishment is on your right. Plenty of room for parking.

This was a new venue for the DFG in 2010 and very successful. The cemetery is located in Bournemouth. The best place to park is at the Richard Language College, 43-45 Wimborne Road, and the cemetery is a few minutes walk from there.

Meet at the landing stage at Sandbanks (to the right of the chain ferry). There is NO parking in the immediate vicinity and the closest is along side roads etc approx 10-15mins walk away, please bear this in mind and allow yourself enough time! The boat will take about 20-25 people so I would suggest that bearing in mind how many we get on a foray these days, it might be advisable to "get in quick" for this one! Once again we will have the help of Giuseppe (Olive Tree Cookery School) for a fungi cooking demonstration and following the success of last years demo we hope to be able to hold this one outside the Villa (weather permitting) so that more people can get "hands on" and have a go themselves! We will also be back under the guidance of the Dorset Wildlife Trust this year and we will be covering that area of the Island extensively. Please could anyone who wishes to come along PLEASE contact Zina (refer to contacts page) to book up. Very easy going. Please remember your DFG membership card!

From Ringwood head towards Southampton (A31(T). Turn left shortly before Picket Post - Signposted Shobley/Linford. (narrow road with passing places). After approx 1 mile there is a car park signposted to right. Over a small bridge. Two car parking areas - in total 30 + spaces. (suggest use car park along side the forest 20+ spaces). After the foray we will go to one of the pubs below for lunch (probably the Red Shoot) and of course all are welcome.

NB: when leaving turn right and work your way back through Poulner, otherwise you may end up in Cadnam!

Refreshments Nearby: Alice Lisle at Poulner, Red Shoot at Appleslade or High Corner Inn north of Broomy Walk. Some a bit of a drive however.

Situated near Ashley Heath on the road from three Legged Cross to Ringwood. The Park is clearly marked and signposted from all directions. As in previous years parking will be free for DFG members. Make sure you bring your DFG membership card and let them know in the visitor centre who you are and that you are a DFG member. The Park may be holding a country fair as last year at this time and we hope to coincide with this again. Please remember your DFG membership card!

New for 2011. From Blandford take the A357 towards Sturminster Newton. Just before you approach the traffic lights (there is a garage on the right on the left hand bend) at the River Stour turning for the town turn left at a pub called The Bull into Common Lane. Keep going up this lane and fork left at Broad Oak and the entrance to the wood is on your left after a few hundred yards. Pretty easy going but inevitably muddy at times.

From the main A35 turn on to the A351 at the Bakers Arms roundabout and head towards Wareham. After about a mile you come to traffic lights at Holton Heath, turn left here into a private road towards Holton Heath railway station. You will pass the old admiralty buildings (behind a high railing fence) either side of this road. Continue for about half a mile until you reach a curve in the road (opposite the entrance to the former Admiralty Park) and park up on the right. Should be enough room for a good number of vehicles. An easy going venue but as usual can get quite muddy.

Please see the Durlston website at http://www.durlston.co.uk/ for more details of the area and how to get there. It can be quite difficult going as there are many humps & bumps and it can get rather muddy. Also being situated right on the headland the winds coming in off the sea can be quite strong and cold (as we found out in 2010!), so wrap up warm!

From West Moors village take the B3072 in a northerly direction for approx one and a half miles to the Depot which is on a sharp bend. Meet in the car-park for checking in. This venue is members only please. This is a military establishment and as such there is STRICTLY no smoking, no lighters, cameras, mobile phones or dogs. If you wish to come along please forward your names and vehicle registrations to our secretary Eg Aberson (details on contacts page) nearer the time. Please DO NOT just turn up for this particular foray as they require names etc in advance! Terrain wise this is our easiest going foray with a network of concrete roads.

The DFG's oldest venue that we have gone to every year since 1995! from the A35 turn left at Morden Park Corner on to the B3075 towards Wareham. After approx a mile you will reach a sweeping right hand bend in the road, park on the gravelled area to the left of this. An easy going venue with no slopes etc but of course always mud!

In Christchurch make your way along Hurn Road from either the Jumpers direction or from the Blackwater Jct until you reach the roundabout adjoining St Catherines Way & Marlow Drive. Turn in to Marlow Drive and then turn right in to the car-park by the parade of shops. A few muddy patches as always and a couple of brisk inclines here but on the whole pretty easy going. This will be a joint venture with the Christchurch Countryside Service and we will hopefully have one of their representatives coming along with us.

Head to the village of Sixpenny Handley north of Blandford Forum along the A354 to Salisbury. At the bottom (Salisbury) end of the village and just past the pub you will arrive at a crossroads. Turn left here and head in the direction of Bowerchalke for approx a mile to reach the entrance of the wood (RSPB managed again). As always the wood can get very muddy. plenty of parking for about 12 or so vehicles.

If you have any queries please contact either Eg Aberson, Zina Roworth or Mark Pike whose details can be found on the contacts page.