- The CATE Database -   - ABFG Interactive Open Forum-   - Biodiversity Action Plan files-   - Fungus Data Service -
CATE, the Association's modern national database now holdsover 197,000 pre- and post-1960 fungus records.   The forum pages are now open and contributors are welcomed to post information, threads and replies   Identification, data, statistics, risk assessments on rare and endangered UK fungi - this section has now gone live with an interactive noticeboard   Datasets of historical county records are now available to member groups

June 2009 Latest:

In May the CATE database benefited from the receipt of a valuable new tranche of some 24,000 fungal records. UK records are now coming in at an average rate of 12,000 per month.

The ABFG and BMS debate: Is this the way forward? (click on News above)

It's the right time to join the ABFG!

For just £25 you can take out a family membership (£19.00 for an individual) and in doing so you will help to conserve our precious stocks of fungi. If climate change is upon us then the well-being of fungus species may make the difference of life or death for some of our best known woodland trees. Membership brings a great range of benefits including the flagship Forayer magazine. The application form can be dowloaded from the list on the left.

Membership

Who can Join the ABFG
Family Membership
Membership Entitlements
Application Form
Financial Grants

General Resources

2008 AGM
Mushroom Hunting
Workshops
Children's Forays
Talks
Poisoning

The Forayer

The ABFG Magazine
Submitting Articles
Recent Articles
Advertising
Forayer archives

Member Services

Stains and Reagents
Reference CDs
Books
Identification Service
Accessories

Fungi and you

Our Role in Conservation
Fungus Cons. Forum
Residential Courses
How You Can Help

Local Groups

What Local Groups Do
How to Find an ABFG Group
Starting New Groups
Recording
Rules of the Game

 

Check out: the new pages of 'Forayer archives' (left) listing all previous articles in the Forayer magazine and its predecessor, the ABFG Journal. These articles are available on request at a small charge for reprinting.

The 2009 Annual General Meeting took place on March 22nd 2009 at Cricket St Thomas Hotel, Chard. It was attended by over 60 delegates.

ABFG Residential Courses: A basic course (residential) is being held at Cricket St Thomas hotel, Somerset from 5th to 7th October 2009

Click: on any of the underlined subject headings on the left of this page to begin exploring the mycological world of the ABFG.

For an overview of who and what we are and to find out the latest news on UK mycology, go to the blue buttons towards the top of the page.
These will also link you to other UK organisations concerned with mycology and conservation of fungi.

The fungi are among the most fascinating life forms on the planet. Not plants but included in a kingdom of their own they have been around for millions of years and species have evolved into an extraordinary range of shapes, colours and textures. Most are harmless and do an important job in the countryside.



In the United Kingdom we enjoy more than 6,000 different species of 'higher fungi' - those whose fruiting bodies can be examined with the naked eye and handled easily. Many though are now in danger.

Mycena renati (immediately above), for example, is a rare and vulnerable species in the British Isles but is also stunningly beautiful. Fungi like this and many others need our care and support for their future (photo: Mirek Junek).

Photo (top): Hericium coralloides (photo: Patrick Ruch)

There is a new BBC Wales Nature website on line including a fungi section

Click on this link for more details

Click on this link for details of
Waxcap Watch and Garden Wildlife 		  (right): Michael Jordan, Hazel Malcolm, Paul Minton and Lorna Minton with the ABFG's award-winning Chelsea Flower Show Silver Medal stand, May 2007 (right): ABFG members Justin Smith and Dave Shorten check out some microscopic details at a get-together after the AGM at Cricket St Thomas Hotel in Somerset, March 2008