DORSET FUNGUS GROUP FORAY PROGRAMME 2009
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 and the new venue at Arne as you will need it to obtain free parking! This is usually about £4.50 at Moors Valley and similar at Arne so it will certainly pay you to bring it along!
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.
2009 MAIN FORAYS CONFIRMED!
Sunday September 6th - Delph Wood, Broadstone.
09.30 Start
From the direction of Poole take the road (A349) to Wimborne to a point about 300m south of the traffic lights at Gravel Hill. There is a well concealed turning on the left that leads into the wood. This is a very easy going foray but beware of the stuff that doggies leave behind as it is often all over the place!
Sunday September 13th - 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 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.
Sunday September 20th - 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.
Sunday September 27th - Great Plantation, Wool.
09.30 Start
From Wareham head along the A352 towards Wool. You will eventually pass a small public house on your right (after approx 5 miles) called the Stokeford Inn. Approx another quarter of a mile (NOT the first gate) past here turn into the entrance gate at Hethfelton on your right. Parking might be a bit of a concern here (see car sharing notes above) but if need be there is a bit more space further along the road. The venue is very easy going with no steep slopes and most tracks are gravelled.
Sunday October 4th - Arne (RSPB).
09.30 Start
A totally new venue this year for the DFG. From Wareham take the B3075 signposted to Corfe Castle & Swanage (please note NOT the Wareham bypass!) and head for Stoborough. Here there is a well concealed road between the houses to your left called Nutcrack Lane, just past a garage/petrol station on the opposite side of the road. Turn into here and head along the road until nearly reaching its limit art Arne (approx 3 miles). The RSPB car-park is on the right. I believe provision has been made for us to park without the need for paying but I would suggest something for their donation box might be in order? The area is mostly heath & woodland but again the tracks can get muddy. Remember your DFG membership card!
Saturday October 10th - 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.
Sunday October 11th - New Forest, South Oakley Plantation.
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!
Saturday October 17th - Brownsea Island.
11.00 Start (including approx 1 hour presentation)
There has been a bit of a change of plane for this years foray. As we have been asked by the National Trust to do a weekend event to include a digital filmshow/talk each morning we will not be doing our usual members only Sunday foray with the Dorset Wildlife Trust this year. Apologies to those who might have been looking forward to this. However we do need some members to assist us (Derek & Mark) with the smooth operation of the weekends events and as such we will require 8 members per day if possible. Details will be sent out asap via email/word of mouth. If any other members wish to come on the forays they will have to pay for the boat and admission to the Island (unless members of the NT or DWT in which case it will be just the boat fare to pay). They will not however be asked to pay the fee for the actual foray. Please also note that although we will be picking a limited amount of finds for an identification session after the foray we will NOT be picking for the pot so no need to bring your baskets on this occassion! Remember your DFG membership card!
Sunday October 18th - Brownsea Island.
As Above.
Saturday October 24th - Moors Valley Country Park.
09.30 Start
After a years absence we return to the Moors Valley Country Park. Situated near Ashley Heath on the road from three Legged Cross to Ringwood. The Park is clearly marked and signposted. 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. Remember your DFG membership card!
Sunday October 25th - West Moors Fuel Depot.
09.30 Start
CANCELLED
Saturday October 31st - Stubhampton Bottom, Ashmore.
09.30 Start
After a bit of a recce mission last spring we thought we might give this one a main season try. 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.
Sunday November 1st - New Forest, South Oakley Plantation.
09.00 Start
See 11th October above (probably without lunch but you never know!)
Sunday November 8th - 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.
Sunday November 15th - Kingston Lacy.
CANCELLED BY VENUE
Sunday November 22nd - 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.
Sunday November 29th - 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!
If you have any queries please contact either Eg Aberson, Phil Goldney or Mark Pike whose details can be found on the contacts page.