Paignton Zoo Wants To Take You Fungus Hunting

By Philip Knowling

Paignton, UK - What are nature's best kept secrets? Are they birds? Are they insects? Are they flowers?

They are greater in number than nearly all other groups of living organisms. They spend most of their lives hidden amongst microbes. Some become the largest living things on the planet, weighing hundreds of tonnes. These life forms are in a kingdom of life all of their own. No ecosystem can function without them. They could recycle you when you die. They are fungi.

Planet Fungus 2008 is a chance to find out more about the amazing world of fungi. The event, on Saturday 25th October, is led by Dr. Christian Taylor and supported by Dave Ellacott, the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust Reserves Warden.

Dr. Taylor runs RAISE - Rural Arts In Science Education - an education for sustainable development project based at Beenleigh Meadows Farm near Totnes in South Devon. He is an experienced mycologist and an enthusiastic educator who researches how fungi interact with the ecology of insects and plants.

The day runs from 10:00am to 3:00pm. It starts with a talk and slide show introduction to the microscopic world of fungi. Then you set off with the experts to discover fungi for yourselves. You round the day off by identifying your finds before cooking up and tasting any edible species and releasing others back into the wild.

Bring wellies, sandwiches, thermos flask, warm clothes, waterproofs, a small collecting basket and – if you have them - fungal identification guides and a hand-mirror.

The fungal kingdom is truly incredible. It possesses more species than all the other groups except bacteria and insects. The biomass of individuals of some species such as honey fungus have broken records for all groups - some fungi are the most massive creatures on planet Earth.

The day costs just £5. Gather at Paignton Zoo’s Penwill Way overflow car park at 10:00am. It will be based both at Paignton Zoo and at the Primley Park local nature reserve across the road. It finishes at about 3:00pm.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust are registered charities. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring (01803) 697500.

PHOTO: Reserves warden Dave Ellacott with a yellow stainer mushroom – when you scratch it, it goes yellow!