Foray Programme

Please contact Derek Schafer if you would like to attend any meetings and are not yet a member. In very bad weather, please check with the foray leader before setting out. Unless indicated otherwise, forays are led by Derek Schafer, start at 10.00 am, and finish around 1.00 pm.

Joanna Dodsworth, BFG Foray Programme Secretary

Date 2012	Event
Sunday 27 May	BFG AGM 2.30pm Meet at Duck End House, Hawleys Lane,Whitchurch SP 804206. Coming into village on the A413 from Aylesbury, turn right into the very narrow Hawleys Lane immediately after the first garage in the village. Turn right into the drive of Number 8 near the end of the lane. If you are coming into Whitchurch from the north, at the roundabout drive straight ahead into the village and turn left into Hawleys Lane after you pass Beech Close and the antiques shop. It would help if you could phone to let us know if you are coming. After the official business there will be a photo show of fungi found during recent years (please bring any electronic images you would like to share with other members).
Sunday 22 July	Wotton House Estate (Privately owned.) Meet at gate on the Kingswood to Brill road, 2.5 km from the junction with the A41, and almost opposite a cottage on the other side of the road; SP 676169. Extensive wooded grounds, with lake and veteran oaks; the adjacent nature reserve at Rushbeds once formed part of the grounds. Species found here in the past include Boletus satanas (a red data list species), Coprinellus heterothrix (first English record) and Coprinellus saccharinus.
Sunday 9 September	Ashridge Workshop 9.30 am at Ashridge (National Trust). Joint event with the Herts & Beds Fungi Group. Based in the Trust buildings close to the monument at Grid. Ref. SP 970131. The day will begin with a foray around Ashridge grounds followed, back in the workroom, by a short introductory talk by Alan Outen. Then you can set about identifying your fungi using a selection of books, keys, course handouts and microscopes. There will be several people on hand to help with identification. Lunch can be purchased on site or you can bring your own. Coffee/tea will be served in the workroom. Could people bringing their own microscopes or who have special interests please let Steve know? Please book early as spaces are limited. Send your name and £5 registration fee to Steve Kelly, 1 Church Hill, Bedmond, Abbots Langley, Herts. WD5 ORW. Telephone No. 01923268689. Email: stephen.kelly @talktalk.net. NB Note the 9.30 start time.
Friday 14 - 16 and 16 - 22 September	Forest of Dean Fri 14-Sun 16 & 16 - 22 Sep Forest of Dean. Beginnners Introductory Course and Residential Foray in Parkend, jointly with the Leicestershire Fungi Study Group and the Herts & Beds Fungi Group. The beginners introductory course will run from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th and will be tutored by Derek Schafer. Price £120 per person sharing. The 16th to 22nd will be an untutored residential foray, price £22.50 per night sharing (minimum four contiguous nights). Materials will be provided for a toast & cereal breakfast; packed lunches and evening meals extra - the latter will be taken at a nearby Inn. Activities will include visits to local sites within the Royal Forest and an opportunity to study the fungi with microscopes. The events will be based at 1 Hazeldene (www.deanholidays.co.uk) in Parkend, a village in the Forest. To book and for more details contact Derek Schafer. Two half-week tutored British Mycological Society courses are also being held there the following week.
Sunday 16 September	Stoke Common (Corporation of London). Meet at SU 984 856. From the B416 Gerrards Cross Rd turn off east at the traffic lights near the Fox & Pheasant into Stoke Common Rd, after 50yds park in a stony layby on the south side of the road. A relatively new site for the group, this area of acid heathland with a good mix of conifer and deciduous trees is managed by the Corporation of London and enjoys a rich variety of fungi. Leader: Penny Cullington.
Sunday 23 September	Whitecross Green Wood (BBOWT Reserve & SSSI). Joint event with the Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire. The reserve straddles the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border (but is all VC 24) and is ancient woodland with a rich plant community. It was part-felled and planted with Scots Pine in the 1960s and, after its acquisition by BBOWT, has been managed to restore it to native woodland including felling the pines. Turn off the minor road between Murcott and Boarstall opposite a small cottage at SP 600 151. The car park is through two gates to the south of the road (please close the gates). Dogs on lead, please. Leader: Penny Cullington.
	More events to follow - watch this space

BMS = British Mycological Society (contact Carol Hobart geastrum@tiscali.co.uk);

HBFG = Herts & Beds Fungi Group (contact Stephen Kelly stephen.kelly@talktakk.net ).

Hazeldene = Derek & Jen's holiday house, 1 Hazeldene, at Parkend, in the Forest of Dean (contact Derek at 01296 640923 or www.deanholidays.co.uk).