DORSET FUNGUS GROUP FORAY PROGRAMME 2010
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, Phil Goldney & Derek Monk are full members of the ABFG.
GENERAL NOTES REGARDING FORAYS
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 along!
New for 2010 (by popular request!) is the suggested refreshment venues to visit after each foray. If you just click on the name(s) below the foray descriptions it will show you details of the establishment! Another new feature for 2010 is the inclusion of a PDF file below (nice one Alan!) for you to be able to download and print out the entire foray programme!
Car-Sharing
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.
2010 MAIN SEASON FORAYS (Some to be confirmed)
Sunday September 5th - Bere Wood, Bloxworth.
09.30 Start
Heading along the A35 from the Poole/Bournemouth direction go past the staggered crossroads at Morden Park Corner and take the next right turn that you come to for Bloxworth (if you miss this one there is another right turn about a further 1.5 miles along the A35!). On reaching Bloxworth the road goes sharp right. Do not go that way but turn left in to a cul-de-sac with a church on the right. Park where you can along this road (please respect peoples driveways etc) or if not (although it says no parking!) in the British Legion car-park on the same side as the church. The venue is easy going but can get very muddy.
Refreshments Nearby: Either the Cock & Bottle at Morden or the Royal Oak at Bere Regis.
Sunday September 12th - Garston Wood, Sixpenny Handley.
09.30 Start
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.
Refreshments Nearby: The Roebuck Inn, Sixpenny Handley.
Sunday September 19th - Sherford Bridge, Wareham Forest.
09.30 Start
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!
Refreshments Nearby: Cock & Bottle at Morden
Sunday September 26th - Gains Cross, Shillingstone.
09.30 start
After many years gap a return to one of the DFG's original stamping grounds! from Blandford take the A352 towards Sturminster Newton. Just before arriving at Shillingstone there is a pronounced hump in the road at Gains Cross, turn right on top of this hump and park up the minor road. Be aware that this is a very steep sided wooded area and the various climbs/slopes etc are not for the faint hearted! On a wet day it can be quite treacherous so please bear this in mind! This is probably our most difficult foray to get around.
Refreshments Nearby: The Old Ox in Shillingstone.
Sunday October 3rd, Stubhampton Bottom, Ashmore.
09.30 Start
Take the higher road from Blandford to Shaftesbury (B3081) until you reach a crossroads (marked on the OS map as Fontmell Hill House) and turn right here towards Ashmore. About a mile down the road park at the point marked as Washers Pit on the OS map. Not a great deal of parking space here I'm afraid (see car sharing notes above) but it is fairly quiet traffic wise so more room can be found up/down the road. Be aware there are a couple of steep slopes in this wood and it can get very muddy.
Refreshments Nearby: Compton Abbas Airfield
Sunday October 10th, West Moors Fuel Depot.
09.30 Start
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.
Refreshments Nearby: The Woodcutters, Three Legged Cross.
Sunday October 17th - Moors Valley Country Park.
09.30 Start
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. Remember your DFG membership card!
Refreshments Nearby: At the Park itself or The Woodcutters, Three Legged Cross.
Sunday October 24th - Brownsea Island.
09.00 for 09.20 boat
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"? This year we will be back under the guidance of the Dorset Wildlife Trust and we will be covering that area extensively. Very easy going. Remember your DFG membership card!
Refreshments Nearby: The cafe on the Island or back in Poole/Sandbanks.
Sunday October 31st - New Forest, South Oakley Plantation.(subject to possible change of location)
09.00 Start
At the Queens Head pub in Burley village turn left towards Lyndhurst and continue for approx one & a half miles and park on the left on a gentle right hand bend in the road. This is the FIRST car-parking area after leaving Burley. Please note that there is an entrance to a pound on the left of this parking area that MUST be kept clear at all times as it is required for access. As usual all are invited to join us in one of the pubs in Burley for lunch after the foray. Please note the 09.00 start!
Sunday November 7th - Durlston Country Park.
09.30 Start
A totally new venue for the DFG for 2010 and one quite different than we are used to! 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, so wrap up warm!
Refreshments Nearby: Many pubs etc in Swanage.
Sunday November 14th - Wimborne Rd Cemetery, Bournemouth.
09.30 Start
A new venue for the DFG in 2010. 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.
Refreshments Nearby: Plenty of pubs etc in the vicinity.
Sunday November 21st - Yellowham Hill, Puddletown.
09.30 Start
Again head along the A35 from Poole/Bournemouth towards Dorchester until you reach a junction just beyond the one for Puddletown that is signposted to Troytown. Turn off here and go under the A35 and on to what was originally the old main road, keep going for about half a mile along here until you enter the wooded section and park anywhere along the side of the road. Plenty of parking. There are a couple of slopes/tracks in the wood that can get very muddy and slippery but otherwise it is pretty easy going.
Refreshments Nearby: Martyrs Inn, Tolpuddle or Royal Oak at Bere Regis.
Sunday November 28th - Holton Heath.
09.30 Start
This another new venue for 2010. 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.
Refreshments Nearby: The Clay Pipe, Holton Heath.
Sunday December 5th - Thorncombe Wood, Dorchester.
09.30 Start
For this foray follow the same route as for the Yellowham Hill foray but instead of coming off at the Troytown junction carry on for around another half a mile 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.
Refreshments Nearby: The Wise Man, West Stafford.
If you have any queries please contact either Eg Aberson, Phil Goldney or Mark Pike whose details can be found on the contacts page.