3 Hour Mushroom Forage

Service Description

Join me for a 3 hour deep-dive into the incredible world of fungi! Discover the wonders of the mushroom kingdom, from edible to deadly, medicinal to functional, and even fluorescing fungi! As we wander through very special ancient woodland mushroom-hunting, we will identify, and learn all about, the incredible variety of species, shapes, colours, reproductive & growth strategies, habitats, ecological roles, communities & chemical communication, interspecific interactions, and all things wondrous about the amazing fungal kingdom! l will take you to some of the richest mushroom grounds in South Wales, where we will encounter a fantastic variety of fascinating finds! With kind permission from The Woodland Trust and Natural Resources Wales. Before each forage, I spend days scouting to ensure I show you the most variety and abundance, to teach you as much as possible about these remarkable organisms! Once you book a session, you will receive email confirmation of your booking, the exact meeting location will be shared the day before at the latest, after I have completed scouting, but it will always be within 20 minutes of Chepstow. My aim is to share with you the incredible diversity of fungi thriving in Welsh woodlands, and to equip you with the skills to begin identifying mushrooms you come across in future. This offering is not intended as a group mass harvest of wild mushrooms, we will not be gathering any to take home, in line with woodland authority regulations. The price you pay includes a fixed percentage payment to NRW & WT for permission to explore on their land, which goes towards the curation and protection of their precious forests. As the season is so short, mushroom forages will go ahead regardless of poor weather conditions such as wind or rain, unless it becomes dangerous to do so. With climate change we are experiencing hotter, drier Autumns. If there is a drought, most fungi cannot fruit. If that unexpectedly occurs, or a mushroom forage is cancelled due to prohibitive weather conditions, you will retain credit and be given priority for future dates. Please note that these forages involve hours of walking, albeit not strenuous, but appropriate fitness and mobility levels are required for uneven, often muddy woodland terrain, with overhanging branches & thorny bracken, so please dress appropriately. 2 children aged 14 or under may attend free of charge with a paying parent/guardian. GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE ON VOUCHER PAGE!