Join us for a day recording the fungi of Dollis Brook with mycologist Mark Spencer.

Fungi are an extraordinarily diverse group of organisms that come in many shapes and sizes. In the UK there are nearly 15,000 described fungi species: thousands of species of mushrooms as well as thousands of more obscure organisms such as powdery mildews, moulds, yeasts and entomopathogenic fungi. Common to all fungi is reproduction through the release of spores and the acquisition of nutrients through breaking down organic matter. The latter ability means fungi play a vital role as decomposers in ecosystems. Recording which fungi species are present on a site provides essential data regarding the distribution, seasonality and ecology of UK species, and also enables site managers to protect rare and valuable species, should any be found to be present.

On this Field Recorder Day, we invite you to join like-minded nature enthusiasts for a day of learning about, finding, identifying and recording fungi in an informal setting. Naturalists of all levels (from total beginner to expert) are encouraged to attend, share their experiences with peers and help one another improve their knowledge and build confidence in biological recording. Fungi specialist Mark Spencer will be leading the day and providing guidance throughout.

What will the day involve?

Practical experience of finding, identifying and recording fungi in the field.

Access to a knowledgeable fungi specialist with the opportunity to discuss identification questions.

A chance to meet like-minded nature enthusiasts.

What do I need to know in advance?

This event is aimed at adults only.

It’s free to attend and fungi recorders of all abilities are welcome, but booking is essential.

This is not a foraging event. Foraging is strictly prohibited on our events and anyone foraging will be asked to leave the event.

All identification will be completed in the field where possible, though please note that this event may involve some experienced mycologists collecting fungal specimens for further investigation.

We'll be outside for the whole day so please bring suitable clothing for the weather

Please bring food for the day with you (i.e. lunch)

All records collected will be added to iRecord in order to share our findings with the site managers, Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL), London Natural History Society (LNHS) and relevant national recording schemes and societies.

Check out our Info for Field Recorder Day Attendees page for more info (including instructions for getting set up iRecord): https://biologicalrecording.co.uk/info-for-field-recorder-day-attendees/ (https://biologicalrecording.co.uk/info-for-field-recorder-day-attendees/)

Fungi Specialist: Dr Mark Spencer

Mark Spencer is an internationally respected botanist who also has a strong interest in fungi. Mark has decades of experience with identifying and recording fungi, regularly leads fungi walks, and is an enthusiastic teacher keen to inspire newcomers to the wonderful world of mycology.

Dollis Brook (Barnet)

This Field Recorder Day will take place on the Dollis Brook, an important watercourse and green corridor in the London Borough of Barnet. Specifically, we’ll be surveying part of the Lower Dollis Brook, a 29.45 ha Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). Habitat wise, this section of the brook is flanked by a narrow strip of woodland, mostly sycamore but with a wide range of other trees and shrubs, including some old oaks. Although these lower reaches are less natural than the upper brook, the site forms a valuable green corridor through suburbia. The brook is heavily shaded, so aquatic plants are largely limited to Himalayan Balsam and occasional clumps of Yellow Iris and Pendulous Sedge. Sticklebacks live in the water, and kingfishers nest in its steep clay banks. The path alongside is part of the Brookside Walk, established by Finchley Council in the 1920s and now incorporated into the Dollis Valley Greenwalk. You can find out more about the site and its wildlife on the Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL) website here (https://www.gigl.org.uk/sinc/BaBII16).

This Field Recorder Day is being delivered by the Biological Recording Company (https://biologicalrecording.co.uk/) in collaboration with the London Borough of Barnet (https://www.barnet.gov.uk/).

Description supplied by the event organiser.