The historic Lanhydrock National Trust estate near Bodmin was home to something different as fungi enthusiasts from far and wide congregated as part of UK Fungus Day.  

Displays of fungi, leaflets and information about fungi were some of the events taking place as part of the Cornwall fungus recording group event, which also included guided walks in the nearby woods.  

Through UK Fungus Day, the British Mycological Society shares the importance of fungi to our lives and aims to inspire others to help preserve our native fungi and improve our scientific knowledge of these unique and remarkable organisms.

One of those in attendance, Stuart said: “It was a good day. We struggled to find any fungus for the display though. I spent the day before traipsing through various pieces of woodland. We did find some good stuff out at Lanhydrock though.  

“There’s likely a new county record for one species (that was found less than 50 metres from where we were set up!) And there were another couple of good finds too.” 

Stuart also explained why he took up mycology as a hobby, saying: “I started out as someone interested in foraging mushrooms to eat... and it just went from there. 

“I’m just as interested in the recording of species now as I am in the culinary side of things.”