About the event

Fungi are essential to life on Earth as the primary degraders, and they possess a fascinating biology. Kingcombe and Powerstock nature reserves are among the best places in England to find fungi, with over 500 recorded species—many of them rare, all of them beautiful. The huge variation in geology and plant life at Kingcombe Meadows ensures a variety of habitats which allows for a plethora of species to be present.

The day consists of a brief introduction to the fungal world and answers the questions: What are mushrooms and toadstools? How do they fit into the natural world? How on earth do you tell one from another? You will then head out on a guided walk, where all the fungi found will be discussed and where possible identified.

Due to the nature of this event, there will be some walking over rough and uneven ground, and some time to pause as you listen to discussion points.

Please note: This event is part of our wider work on surveying our reserves which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in many places. We do not allow any private fungi foraging on our reserves at any time.

John is not only an expert mycologist, but also a foraging expert of mushrooms, hedgerows and seashores. He brings an infectious enthusiasm for the natural world. Over a period of twenty-five years, he has taken around seven hundred such forays, many of them based in the South West and at Kingcombe in particular, so has a wealth of information at his fingertips to share with you. John is now one of the country's leading authorities on foraging for food, often seen on national TV, including River Cottage. John contributes to national publications and has written a number of books in The River Cottage foraging series, as well as his best-selling books including “The Forager’s Calendar”.