DORSET FUNGUS GROUP FORAY PROGRAMME 2008
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 & Ken Roberts are full members of the ABFG.
GENERAL NOTES REGARDING FORAYS
Please remember that all grid references given often refer to the car parking areas/meeting points and NOT necessarily the foray sites themselves!
For those of you who require more information about a particular site please go to www.streetmap.co.uk but if you just click on any of the grid Refs below it will bring up the precise location and map of the venue.
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"
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 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.
Autumn 2008 Forays.
Sunday September 7th - Yellowham Hill, Puddletown.
09.30 Start
From the direction of Bournemouth/Poole take the A35 and continue for approx half a mile beyond the junction for Puddletown. You will then reach a junction signposted for Troytown, turn left hear and under the A35 on to what was the original main road for about a quarter of a mile to reach Yellowham Hill. Parking is along the old road near the brow of the hill and as it is now rarely used there is enough parking for a good 12 or more vehicles. Fairly easy going with no steep hills, can be very muddy though.
Sunday September 14th - Sherford Bridge, Wareham Forest.
09.30 Start
Turn off the main A35 at Morden Park Corner on to the B3075 towards Wareham. After about a mile you will arrive at a right-hand bend in the road, park on the gravel area to the left. Usually room for about 15-20 vehicles. Another easy going venue with no steep slopes.
Sunday September 21st - Great Coll Wood, Almer.
09.30 Start
From the main A31 Bere Regis-Blandford road, more or less opposite the Worlds End pub, take the minor road in to the small village of Mapperton and keep bearing to the left and past a farm. Keep going for about half a mile to the entrance of the wood. This road can get very muddy at times and seem little more than a farm track but it is in fact mettalled. Should be room for around 8-10 vehicles. The venue is very easy going with no steep slopes and some well defined tracks. Again it can get quite muddy though.
Sunday September 28th - Thorncombe Wood, Puddletown.
09.30 Start
As for Yellowham Hill above make your way along the A35 but this time pass the turn for Troytown and exit at the next junction at the bottom of the dual carriageway signposted for Higher Bockhampton. Continue up this minor road for about a quarter of a mile and turn left following the signs for Thomas Hardy's Cottage. The quite substantial car-park is on the right. Room for plenty of vehicles. The site is fairly easy going but there are a few gentle slopes but the network of tracks are well used. It can again get muddy in places.
Sunday October 5th - Bonsley Wood, Durweston
09.30 Start
The wood itself is rather tricky to find and the grid reference refers to the meeting point, a large lay-by alongside the A357 just north of Durweston village. On reaching the wood there is a good deal of space for quite a few vehicles. Note that there are a few steep slopes and some uneven terrain in this wood. It can also get muddy.
Saturday October 11th - Moors Valley Country Park
(TO BE CONFIRMED)
Sunday October 12th - South Oakley Plantation, New Forest
09.00 Start
PLEASE NOTE THE 09.00 START! At the Queens Head pub in Burley village turn left towards Lyndhurst and continue for about one & a half miles and park on the left on a gentle right-hand bend in the road. Note that this is the FIRST car-parking area you reach from the Burley direction. There is space for about 12-15 vehicles. The venue is very easy going but with the inevitable muddy patch here and there. After this foray we usually head back to one of the pubs in Burley for lunch and all are welcome to come along.
Saturday October 18th - Upton Country Park
09.30 Start
From the main A35 Upton bypass turn off at the junction for Upton and turn in to Upton House (directly off the slip road). Go up the drive and meet at the main car-park (which is free). A very easy going venue with many well used tracks and paths. The DFG will hopefully be doing a public foray here in the afternoon open to all comers.
Sunday October 19th - Brownsea Island
Boat Leaves At 09.20 prompt
Meet at the landing stage at Sandbanks (to the right of the chain ferry). NO parking in the immediate vicinity and the closest is a 10-15min walk away so please allow plenty of time to get parked and walk to the jetty for about 09.15. The boat will take about 20 people so bearing in mind the amount we now average on a foray it might be advisable to "get in quick"! A new venture this year is that we are to conduct a public foray here in the afternoon in conjunction with the Dorset Wildlife Trust. We anticipate this will commence at 14.00 and last about 2 hours. There will be no charge for this but donations from the public will be gratefully received! The Island itself is very easy going and is a fantastic day out.
Saturday October 25th - West Moors Fuel Depot
09.30 Start
From West Moors village take the B3072 in a northerly direction for approx one & a half miles to the Depot which is situated on a very sharp bend. Meet in the large car-park on the left for checking in. Members taking part in this foray should be aware that this is a military establishment and we are bound by their rules & regulations. This means you CANNOT bring on to site mobile phones, lighters, cameras, dogs and it is STRICTLY NON SMOKING. If you would like to attend could you please forward your vehicle registration number to Ken before the foray itself. It is very easy going with concrete roads and is all on level ground.
Sunday October 26th - Garston Wood, Nr Sixpenny Handley
09.30 Start
TO BE CONFIRMED
Saturday November 1st - South Oakley Plantation, New Forest
DETAILS AS FOR 12th OCTOBER ABOVE.
Sunday November 2nd - Kingston Lacy House
09.30 Start
Located on the left hand side of the B3082 about one & a half miles from Wimborne before reaching Badbury Rings. Free car-parking and admission is provided for DFG forayers. An easy going venue but again can get rather muddy.
Sunday November 9th - Delph Wood, Broadstone
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
Sunday November 16th - Bere Wood, Bloxworth
09.30 Start
Situated off the main A35 once again. Between East Morden and Bere Regis turn off in to the small village of Bloxworth and you will see a church to your right which is in a cul-de-sac and the road tails off in to a field. Park along this road where you can find room, sometimes it is quite busy but more parking can be found further back. A good easy going venue with no steep slopes or obstacles. Once again it can be muddy though.
Sunday November 23rd - Sares Wood, Affpuddle
TO BE CONFIRMED.
If you have any queries please contact either Ken Roberts, Phil Goldney or Mark Pike whose details can be found on the contacts page.