Magical mushrooms

The third annual Wales Fungus Day is promising to be the biggest and best yet.

Taking place at the National Botanic Garden on Sunday October 12, it will feature some of Wales’ top experts, a wild mushroom ‘cook-up’, a special (and unique) fungi patchwork exhibition, as well as family activities – including wooden-mushroom painting, sculptures, poetry and our fairy model village display.

Organiser Bruce Langridge said: “It is really shaping up to be an excellent event with all sorts of activities which will be of interest to fungi experts and also to the simply curious novice.”

Bruce is promising a mix of serious and scientific with some fun and games thrown in: “Like last year, we will have some of our country’s top mycologists leading walks through the woods and meadow in search of fungi. But, also like last year, we are offering free entry to anyone who comes dressed as a fairy or an elf – for that added bit of glamour.”

Wales Fungus Day – part of UK Fungus Day – will also feature a display of books from the Garden’s Mycological Library, fungi illustrations, a fun fungi fairy trail and a demonstration of ‘fungi’ wood-turning. There will also be a special fungi menu in the Garden restaurant, special offers in the Gift Shop and chance to explore From Another Kingdom, the UK’s first major exhibition on fungi.

The National Botanic Garden will be open from 10am-4pm.

All Wales Fungus Day events are free with normal admission into the Garden, which is £8.50 adult, £7 OAPs, £4.50 Child (5-16) with under 5s are free.

For more information about the Garden, visit www.gardenofwales.org.uk email info@gardenofwales.org.uk or call 01558 667149.