Join a relaxed, informal survey searching for waxcaps and other grassland fungi, recording them as part of the Ouse Burn Way.

About this event

Join us for a relaxed and friendly fungi walk in search of waxcaps and other grassland fungi at Jesmond Old Cemetery.

Waxcaps are some of our most colourful and beautiful fungi, and their presence can tell us a great deal about the health and history of grassland habitats. We’ll take our time exploring the cemetery in autumn, looking for waxcaps and other fungi associated with old, undisturbed grasslands, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the season.

Along the way, we’ll record some of our finds for NHSN’s new North East Waxcaps project, helping us build a better picture of these fascinating fungi across the region.

No previous fungi experience is needed, just curiosity and an enthusiasm for getting outside and looking closely at what’s growing around us. This is an exploratory walk and whether we find our quarry remains to be determined!

Please bring weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear.

Find out more about the North East Waxcaps project here (https://www.nhsn.org.uk/north-east-waxcaps/).

Join the project on iRecord and share your finds here (https://irecord.org.uk/join/north-east-waxcaps).

Essential Information

Event lead: James Common

Event length: 1 session, Friday 16 October, 1.00 pm -3.00 pm (approx)

Event structure: Informal walk

Level: Beginner/Enthusiast

Meet at: Jesmond Old Cemetery, entrance from Sandyford Road, NZ 25774 65459, loses.case.vouch

Event cost: Free

About The Ouse Burn Way Project

Made possible by the Reece Foundation (https://www.reece-foundation.org/), The Ouse Burn Way offers free, enjoyable events that encourage people of all ages to connect with nature. From exploring local wildlife to discovering the hidden gems in your community, these activities are a great way to experience the natural world in Newcastle and North Tyneside. What will you spot in your own neighbourhood? Come along and join us for some outdoor fun, and start noticing the wildlife around you. For more information about the project, please click here (https://www.theouseburnway.co.uk/).

North East Waxcaps Project

This course is part of NHSN's North East Waxcaps project (https://www.nhsn.org.uk/north-east-waxcaps/), which aims to map and protect the region's waxcap grasslands through citizen science. We'll show you how to identify waxcaps in the field and how to submit your sightings, so you can continue contributing to this exciting project long after the course has finished.

About the Event Lead

James works as Ouse Burn Naturalist at NHSN. Outside of work (https://commonbynature.com/), he is a passionate wildlife recorder with a focus on botany and invertebrates. As a botanist, he is a joint BSBI Vice-County Recorder for North Northumberland and has a particular fondness for ferns, grasses and old woods. You can follow him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/commonjames/) & Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commonbynature/).

Description supplied by the event organiser.