NEWS PAGE
NEWS-NEWS-NEWS!
Added 15/4/08
The Dorset Fungus Group has been breaking new ground recently with a highly successful Fungus Tutorial Evening and social gathering held on 10th April 2008 in the Ferndown British Legion.
Attended by 30 members and visitors the enthusiastic audience was treated to a series of fantastic photographs of some well known fungi, taken by our Foray Leader and popular identification expert Mark Pike, who is also a founder member of Dorset Fungus Group. He was ably assisted by another of our highly skilled leaders and fungus identifiers, Derek Monk.
Their presentation comprised of ‘fungus look-alikes’ focussing mainly on popular edibles paired with species of fungi that sometimes look similar but are not recommended for cooking purposes. The magnificent pictures screened were accompanied by realistic looking ceramic models of the fungi themselves, together with a continuous flow of explanation, chat, answers to questions, background stories, and general advice we could all understand. We even had a quiz during the evening and to put the icing on the cake one of our members even brought along a basket of St George’s mushrooms just to whet our appetites!
This was a first time event for Dorset Fungus Group and it has certainly shown us there is a need for such occasions to back up our foray activities and share our knowledge, focus on some of our identification problems and enjoy each others’ company - we are very good at this ! So, many thanks to everyone for coming along, and to the organisers for making it all so interesting. Our Spring forays will start very soon, so please come along and see what Dorset Fungus Group has to offer.
If any members have any ideas for any future tutorial evenings please contact any of us at the Dorset Fungus Group.
Added 24/9/07
Waxcap Watch 2007.
Be part of the largest public fungi survey this autumn!
The National Trust is asking members and non-members alike to survey its 300 gardens and thousands of hectares of countryside in order to find out more about some of the UK's rarest and most colourful fungi. All you have to do is note the number and varieties of waxcaps, fairy clubs and earthtongues that you see, where you saw them and when. Results should be submitted using a simple online form. A FREE colour ID guide will be available to download from September.
To take part and for more information please go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/waxcaps
Added 13/10/06
Another Rare Find In Dorset!
On October 3rd 2006 a very significant discovery was made on Upton Heath near Poole, Dorset on a pile of pulped wood-chip. The species is Gymnopilus dilepis which is, believe it or not, more commonly found in New Zealand & Australia! There have only ever been about 14 records of the fungus in the UK since 2001 (none before this date) and most come from Eastern England. This is the first ever in Dorset! See images below, they are a wonderful colour! A further visit to the site on 13/10/06 found them in an advanced state of decay.
Added 23/07/06.
On 27th April 2006 your webmaster & Forays Secretary was both honoured & humbled to attend a wonderful evening with our Chairman and accept this fantastic award which I feel is really dedicated to the DFG as a whole. It was also very good to meet TV personality and Wildlife Photographer, Chris Packham and Queenie Comfort, Chairman of East Dorset District Council, seen below to either side of Yours truly! A very special thanks also goes to Ken Roberts who nominated me and set out the wonderful words seen below left.
