A talk presented by Sean Cooch, Senior Grasslands Ecologist at Natural England. Natural England is the government's advisor and regulator for the natural environment in England.
This talk explores the fascinating world of waxcaps and the diverse, awe inspiring, community of fungi found in grasslands and meadows. Sean will delve into their unique ecology, the species that make up this colourful assemblage, and the habitat management practices needed to conserve them.
Waxcap Wonders – What You’ll Discover
- Why they matter – the special importance of waxcap grasslands in England and beyond
- Spotting the best sites – how ecologists assess and score them
- JNCC Fungi Guidelines – what qualifies a site for protection
- Hidden gems – what makes a grassland valuable locally and regionally
- Under threat – the challenges facing grassland fungi
- On the Red List – which species are at risk
- The future of conservation – how we can protect these habitats
- New science: eDNA – how cutting-edge DNA technology is revealing hidden biodiversity
- A key focus will be on habitat management: how objectives for grassland fungi can be integrated into Agri-Environment schemes, and how targeted actions can help protect and enhance these irreplaceable habitats for the future.
Join us on 9th September at 7.30pm to learn all about these vibrant fungi and why they need protecting. This talk will deepen your knowledge and identification skills of grassland fungi - perfect for beginners, ecologists or anyone curious about the wonders of our natural world.
The event is organised by Moor Meadows for The Meadow-Makers' Network - a thriving meadows umbrella group with an online Forum, connecting Moor Meadows, East Devon, West Devon, South Devon and Cornwall meadows communities.
This talk is free to attend, but we warmly welcome a small donation to help support our work. Moor Meadows is run by volunteers, and your generosity helps us keep bringing you more inspiring talks from top speakers.
All Photos: Sean Cooch
www.moormeadows.org.uk
https://forum.meadowmakersnetwork.org.uk/
