Fungi Walks and Meetings
Unless otherwise stated, ALL WALKS START AT 10.00 am AND FINISH BETWEEN 12.30 am AND 1.00 pm.
OUR WALKS ARE FOR MEMBERS ONLY, but if you'd like to come on a particular walk but are not yet a member, joining is very cheap and very easy: just click here. All are most welcome - especially families - and no previous experience is needed.
If weather conditions are bad (very windy, frosty or snowy) it would be wise to check with the leader before setting out.
Disclaimer - The Grid Reference given for each event is as accurate as we can make it and may not be at the exact location of the meeting place but should get you within a few hundred yards. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the Grid Reference and link to OpenStreetMap is correct BFG excepts no liability should you get lost. We now include the What3Words reference for the turn off spot from the road as an extra guide to each location. Clicking on the W3W link will open the app. Clicking on 'Navigate' will allow you to select your preferred navigation software (e.g. Google Maps).
Please note that by making a booking for one of our walks you are agreeing to follow our 'Walks Guidelines'. Click here to view
NB: If any members find they are not regularly receiving Penny's information circulars before an event (these are sent out the day before booking opens for each event) or have maybe changed their email address, please get in touch with her.
Print Programme (Only valid at time of printing. Always check website for latest information)
| Date 2025 | Event |
| Saturday April 26th |
Hodgemoor Wood (SSSI - Forestry England) Click here for Report and List |
| Wednesday May 7th |
Rushbeds Wood (SSSI - BBOWT). Click here for Report and List |
| Sunday May 18th | Burnham Beeches (SSSI - City of London Corporation). Click here for Report and List |
| Friday July 25th | BFG AGM at College Lake Nature Reserve |
| Sunday August 10th | Microscope Workshop at the Burnham Beeches Offices, Hawthorn Lane (SU 945845; W3W: poker.plenty.thank). This is an all day event primarily for those with scopes but, depending on demand, with a few places for those interested members without scopes to come along and see what's involved with mycological microscopy. No formal tuition is planned though Derek and Penny will be on hand to offer advice and demonstration of basic skills etc, providing an opportunity for discussion and exchange of ideas and experience with a good range of literature supplied as well. Please contact Penny A.S.A.P to book your place if you'd like to come: those with scopes will have priority and places will be offered on a first come first served basis. More details re schedule etc will be sent round to attendees nearer the time. |
| Wednesday September 24th NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Sep 17th 7am and closes Tue Sep 23rd midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
WOTTON HOUSE ESTATE (Privately owned). A delightful site with extensive wooded grounds, a beautiful lake and some veteran oaks, with a growing and interesting list of fungi. The adjacent Rushbeds BBOWT Nature Reserve once formed part of the grounds. Meet at SP 676 169 (W3W: unions.ringside.regarding) where the small private car park is accessed by a gate off the Kingswood to Brill road about 2 miles south of the junction with the A41, and almost opposite a cottage. Leaders: Derek Schafer and /or Penny Cullington. |
| Saturday September 27th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sat Sep 20th 7am and closes Fri Sep 26th midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
HOCKERIDGE WOOD (Royal Forestry Society). Straddling the Bucks / Herts border, this site has an interesting mix of trees with some unusual species. Meet at SP974 064 at the gated entrance towards the southern end of the wood in John's Lane, (W3W: allow.thin.shine) parking judiciously on the verge on either side of the road - space is limited. From the Chesham direction turn left off the A416 at Ashley Green into Hog Lane, then first right into John's Lane. From the Berkhamsted direction turn left off Shootersway into Denny's Lane, pass under the A41, then fork left into John's Lane. Leaders: Derek Schafer and / orPenny Cullington. |
| Wednesday October 1st NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Sep 24th 7am and closes Tue Sep 30th midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
PULLINGSHILL WOOD (SSSI - Woodland Trust) A beautiful area of typical Chiltern open woodland, predominantly Beech, and well known as a WW1 training ground with many practice trenches still remaining. Early season here can be very productive for fungi. Meet at SU823 862 at the tip of the small triangle of roads (W3W:trifling.bluffs.hiker). From Marlow take the A4188 towards Henley for about 1½ miles, then turn right onto a minor road at Hook Corner, then after about ½ mile right again at the triangle. There are various pull-off parking spots on the minor road leading from the triangle up to the T junction at Marlow Common. Leader: Penny Cullington . |
| Saturday October 4th all day event |
UK FUNGUS DAY PUBLIC EVENT at COLLEGE LAKE NATURE RESERVE, TRING (BBOWT: HP23 5QG / SP935 139 / W3W: broadens.ends.pebbles). This is a new and exciting venture for the group following a gap of six years since our Aylesbury Museum displays which were brought to an end by Covid. A walk for the public in the morning is planned (places bookable via BBOWT) followed by an interactive exhibition with a display of fresh fungi in the Education Centre in the afternoon. Further details to be announced nearer the time. We welcome support from BFG members - please do get in touch with us if you'd like to help - either on the day or in the run up to the event! Organisers and leaders: Sarah-Jayne Ebdon and Jackie Mackenzie Dodds. |
| Sunday October 5th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sun Sep 28th 7am and closes Sat Oct 4th midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
GERRARDS CROSS EAST COMMON (GX Town Council). This is our second visit here - last year being the first: an extensive Common (32 hectares) dating from the 14th Century though largely destroyed by fire in 1921, consisting of mixed woodland dominated by Oak and Birch with some grassland and with a generous network of paths. Meet at the town hall public car park, TQ004 882, on East Common (that's the road name) just opposite the common itself (W3W: rush.echo.indeed). Leaders: Jesper Launder with Derek Schafer and/or Penny Cullington.. |
| Wednesday October 8th NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Oct 1st 7am and closes Tue Oct 7th midday. Max 15 places (Click here to book) |
HODGEMOOR WOODS (SSSI - Forestry England). One of BFG's favourite and long-established foray sites, this is one of the larger remaining areas of broadleaved Chiltern woodland with ancient Oak, Beech and Hornbeam coppice, a diverse mix of trees and some conifer plantation. Meet as previously at SU967 939 (W3W: clever.pretty.lately). Turn east off the A355 2 miles south of Amersham, opposite the Harte and Magpies, into Bottrells Lane. The large carpark is about 1 mile along on your right. Leader: Penny Cullington.. |
| Saturday October 11th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sat Oct 4th 7am and closes Fri Oct 10th midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
NAPHILL COMMON (SSSI - West Wycombe Estate). One of the largest commons in the Chilterns (63 hectares), this is largely deciduous woodland with paths and bridleways, open glades with ancient trees, also noted for woodland birds, deer, ponds, rare plants and fungi. Meet as previously at Naphill Village Hall car park, SU846 969, near the crossroads (W3W:gives.served.melon). Leaders: Derek Schafer and /or Penny Cullington with Peter Davis and Chris Miller. |
| Wednesday October 15th NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Oct 8th 7am and closes Tue Oct 14th midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
DANCERSEND (SSSI - BBOWT) Once owned by the Rothschild family, this is one of our longstanding and favourite sites with extensive areas of mixed woodland and pockets of grassland, and is well-recorded with a rich variety of fungi. The exact area to be covered today will be selected nearer the time, so watch this space for further details of our meetpoint etc. Leader: Penny Cullington with Mick Jones.. |
| Sunday October 19th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sat Oct 12th 7am and closes Sat Oct 18th midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
BURNHAM BEECHES (SSSI - City of London Corporation). An outstanding example of ancient Beech woodland with an extensive list of interesting and rare species, this is now recognised as a site of national and arguably international importance for fungi. Meet at SU954 849 in Sir Henry Peek's overflow car park as last year: Turn into Lord Mayor's Drive (W3W: miss.penny.shrimp) - this is the main entrance opposite Beeches Road, Farnham Common, then continue past the main parking areas with the café on your left to the cross roads (Victoria Cross). Here turn left and go through the gateway to the car park which is on your left after a few yards (W3W: catch.pots.cone). NB1: Please note there is a £3 charge per vehicle; payment is by card only (machine near the café) or in advance through RingGo (area no 28452). NB2: Dogs on leads only. Leaders: Derek Schafer and /or Penny Cullington. |
| Wednesday October 22nd NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Oct 15th 7am and closes Tue Oct 21st midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
COWCROFT WOOD near Chesham (Woodland Trust). This is the group's first visit to this charming smallish (7.4 hectares) wood, part of a bigger area of mixed woodland known as Tylers Hill, an interesting example of ancient and semi-natural woodland. There are many fallen logs and some old mineral workings and wet areas/ponds within the wood that provide interesting aquatic habitats and dampness for fungi. We will meet in St George's Church car park (up to 10 cars) on Tylers Hill Road: SP9818401739 (W3W:sadly.hello.decreased) next to the entrance to Cowcroft Wood a couple of minutes' walk away along a track. There is more parking space available all along Tylers Hill Road. Leaders: Penny Cullington with Jackie Mackenzie Dodds.. |
| Saturday October 25th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sat Oct 18th 7am and closes Fri Oct 24th midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
GREAT BOIS WOOD (privately owned) & CHESHAM BOIS WOODS (Woodland Trust). We visit this beautiful area of ancient broadleaved woodland for the first time. Predominantly Beech, the wood has been protected by a preservation order since 1951 and was designated a Chilterns Heritage Wood in 1992 having a wide range of ancient woodland indicator species. The site comprises a number of smaller woods, including Elvidge, Little Hodds and Hilbury (all Chesham Bois) and the adjacent Great Bois Wood. Time permitting, we will be visiting them all (Elvidge Wood optional at the end) starting out in a beautiful private part of Great Bois Wood, where the owners have been creating an arboretum within the ancient woodland. Our gathering point will be on the triangular verge on North Road at SU9618099268 (W3W: gifts.oval.robe), with parking nearby all along North Road. Leaders: Derek Schafer and/or Penny Cullington with Jackie Mackenzie Dodds. |
| Wednesday October 29th NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Oct 22nd 7am and closes Tue Oct 28th midday. Max 15 places (Click here to book) |
COOMBE HILL & LOW SCRUBS (SSSI - National Trust) This site - one we've not visited since 2006 - provides a mix of chalk grassland and woodland at the highest point in the Chilterns with spectacular views over three counties. Our visit is hopefully timed to coincide with interesting grassland fungi, particularly those associating with Helianthemum. Meet at SP 851 063 in the car park off Lodge Hill, the minor road leading from Chequers to Dunsmore (W3W: trophy.sneezed.enthused). Leader: Penny Cullington. |
| Sunday November 2nd NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sun Oct 26th 7am and closes Fri Nov 1st midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
PENN WOOD (SSSI - Woodland Trust) This is one of the largest ancient woodlands in the Chilterns AONB, 435 acres with many trees over 200 years old and consequently a good diversity of flora, fauna and fungi. The adjacent cricket pitch and churchyard, often flush with late season waxcaps and other grassland species, add to the fungal diversity: we've now recorded over 600 species here. Meet in Penn Street in the church car park at SU924 963. (The entrance to the drive to the car park is at W3W: olive.rider.shorts). Leaders: Derek Schafer and /or Penny Cullington. |
| Tuesday November 4th NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Tue Oct 28th 7am and closes Mon Nov 3rd midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
HOMEFIELD WOOD near Hambledon (SSSI - BBOWT / Forestry England). This is an exciting new site for the group comprising 15 acres of Chiltern chalkland valley with both woodland and grassland. Though awarded SSSI status on account of its rare orchids, it is also a haven for butterflies and moths but has never been surveyed for its fungi. It promises to be productive with a good mix of deciduous trees, also some conifer plantation. Meet at SU814 867 (W3W: gossiping.hosts.unrated). The site is quite near Marlow Common and Pullingshill Wood. From Marlow take the A4188 towards Henley, turning right onto the minor road in Medmenham at the Dog and Badger pub; follow till the T junction where turn right then immediately left into Bockmer End. The site entrance is 500m on your left at the bottom of the hill. We'll park (and meet) just inside the gate where we have special dispensation to enter as space is very limited here. Leaders: Sarah Ebdon and Jackie Mackenzie Dodds.. |
| Saturday November 8th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sat Nov 1st 7am and closes Fri Nov 7th midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
STAMPWELL FARM near Beaconsfield (privately owned). The group returns following several popular walks here. The 70 acre site comprises a mix of traditional farming, some orchards, unimproved grassland with patches of mixed woodland, all managed very much with conservation in mind. It has proved to be an excellent waxcap site with other interesting species including the alien and bizarre Clathrus archeri (Devil's Fingers). Meet at SU974 899 at the farm office buildings at the end of a longish farm track passing some houses on your left half way up the track. The entrance to the farm track (at W3W: asks.tribe.wiping) is off the A40 through a gateway on the opposite side of the road to the Crowne Plaza Hotel complex and just 50 yds or so towards Beaconsfield where there's a brown Crowne Plaza Hotel sign. Leaders: Derek Schafer and / or Penny Cullington with Jackie Ewan. |
| Wednesday November 12th NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Nov 5th 7am and closes Tue Nov 11th midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
STOKE COMMON (SSSI - City of London Corporation). This is a notably interesting site for fungi having acid sandy soil - unusual for the county. There are large areas of heathland having a (now somewhat reduced) perimeter of mixed woodland. The species list is long and varied with some species rare elsewhere in the county and several new to the UK in recent years. Travelling south on the B416 from Gerrards Cross turn off east at the traffic lights near the Fox and Pheasant into Stoke Common Road, then look for the main gate into the Common on your right on a slight bend at SU986 857 (W3W: fears.fend.puff). Meet inside the gate where we have permission to park, otherwise park judiciously in the road (there's a layby a little earlier on the right by a pedestrian gate where we've met previously). Leader: Penny Cullington. . |
| Sunday November 16th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Sun Nov 9th 7am and closes Sat Nov 15th midday. Max 18 places (Click here to book) |
RUSHMERE COUNTRY PARK (Greensands Trust). This site is our only trip to the north of the county this year, the date chosen to suit its tendency to be more productive late in the season. This large estate is situated on the Greensands Ridge adjacent to Stockgrove Park straddling the Bucks / Beds border. The varied habitats include mixed mature woodland with areas of both deciduous and coniferous trees, also heathland, young Christmas tree plantations and unimproved acid grassland. Meet in the car park by the visitor centre after entering the park off Linslade Road near Heath & Reach (SP915 278) (W3W: tarnished.cuts.quitter). Enter through the barrier and follow the road round and up the hill to the main car park at the top. NB For free parking on the day - once your booking has been confirmed by Jenny - please send in your car reg to Paul Hurst (Visitor Services Manager) making sure you mention you're a BFG member. paul.hirst@greensandtrust.org Leaders: Derek Schafer and /or Penny Cullington with Justin Long. |
| Wednesday November 19th NB Start time 10.30 Booking essential Booking opens Wed Nov 12th 7am and closes Tue Nov 18th midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
RUSHBEDS WOOD (SSSI - BBOWT) An ancient broadleaved woodland - part of the original Bernwood Forest - on heavy clay soil, bordered by unimproved meadows and old hedgerows. The site has produced many unusual fungi during our visits over the last 25 years, including 3 species new to the UK, and has a good diversity of deciduous trees though no Beech. Sadly Ash Dieback has much affected the area in recent years. The main parking area is at SP673 154 (W3W: daunting.levels.yacht) at the triangular verge on the T-junction where the Ludgershall road meets the Wotton Underwood to Brill road. (NB: Avoid blocking the railway access and be prepared to double-park if necessary.) Our gathering point is at the inner entrance to the wood (W3W: donation.envy.unscathed) which is located by walking 50 yds along from the T junction on the Ludgershall road, then turning left along the short narrow driveway over the railway where there's another small parking area with space for about 4 cars. Leaders: Derek Schafer and/or Penny Cullington.. |
OTHER LOCAL EVENTS OF INTEREST to which members are welcome though booking will still apply.:
| Date 2025 | Event |
| Thursday November 6th NB Start time 10.00 Booking essential Booking opens Thu Oct 30th 7am and closes Wed Nov 5th midday. Max 10 places (Click here to book) |
STOKE POGES MEMORIAL GARDENS (S. Bucks District Council). This attractive and unusual garden site has mature trees and several areas of lawn which at this time often produce amongst other things a good range of waxcaps including the beautiful Pink / Ballerina Waxcap. Time permitting, we will also visit the adjacent St. Giles Churchyard which has produced some interesting and rare grassland species in the past. Meet at SU977 825 at the Gardens' office buildings just inside the main gate which is on the west side of Church Lane off the B 416 (at W3W: along.bounty.assume). Some parking is available in the driveway just beyond the office buildings, otherwise there is a large car park opposite the entrance. Penny has been leading walks here for Friends of the Gardens for over 20 years now and BFG members are welcome to join her though numbers are limited to 10. Leader: Penny Cullington. |
BMS = British Mycological Society (www.britmycolsoc.org.uk).
HBFG = Herts & Beds Fungi Group (contact Stephen Kelly stephen.kelly@talktalk.net ).