Fungus group champions citizen science

The group look for mushrooms and then record what they find in a database

A group of mushroom enthusiasts in East Devon is working to bolster fungi conservation efforts.

The Three Counties Group of the Fungus Conservation Trust photograph and record the mushrooms they find in a database which is used by organisations that need it.

Trustee Hazel Jordan said: "It is used for various different things - whether it be planning, the National Trust, Natural England, students, conservation groups - an amazing amount of things."

The charity-run trust wants to encourage more people to take part in this form of citizen science.

During fungal forays the group members share their knowledge and passion for the subject

Mushroom expert Andy Knott has noticed an uptick in the number of people taking part in citizen science projects like this, particularly in the aftermath of Covid.

"I don't know if it was being locked down, that people now want to get out, or just wanting to find something different that sparked a new interest, but once you get out and start spotting things, you are pretty much hooked straight away," he said.

Mr Knott wants to champion just how beneficial this kind of exploration can be for everyone.

"It's something we do with our kids quite a lot," he said. "It doesn't cost anything.

"You can go off into the woods all day. The kids are learning, we're learning and we might find something very rare that hasn't been recorded for a long time."

The trust advises never eating a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.

It recommends going with an expert, joining a foraging group or taking a course to learn proper identification and never solely relying on identification apps or online resources.

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