Fungi Identification for Improvers in the Field

You will spend a whole day in the field searching for fungi to identify. The day will begin with a brief introduction to the larger fungi - the various groups and their habitats. You will learn about the key characteristics necessary for identification, such as gill attachments and spore colours. Mycorrhizal associations (symbiotic relationships) with trees and other plant species will be discussed too.

This course is suitable for improvers. It is for those with a basic knowledge of fungi who wish to learn more about fungi classification and about physical characteristics which will assist in identification. A mixture of common and scientific names will be used.

Led by Phil Ambler, fungi enthusiast. Phil has been fascinated by fungi for well over a decade and is regularly out in local woodland recording species having built up many hours in the field. He is a member of the British Mycological Society, a regular on fungi field trips as part of the Kent Field Club including as a leader this year and is one of the admins on the Kent Fungi Facebook Group. Phil has provided a fungi survey for the National Trust (Knole Park) in previous years and is part of a local recording group entering records into the FRDBI (Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland).

Photo: waxcap species. (Anne Waite)

For further information, please visit the Study Days page of the Kent Wildlife Trust website.