Fungi and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
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Hygrocybe calyptriformis, Hygrocybe spadicea and Microglossum olivaceum - a three-year waxcap
grassland survey project has recently been completed in Somerset. This has involved the detailed
survey of some known sites as well as a more general survey of the county. The report will also discuss
the use of indicator species and the number of visits necessary to assess a site. More generally, work
has also been carried out by the British Mycological Society, involving site surveys, evaluation of the
use of indicator species and site management requirements.
National Database and Reference Checklist of the Higher Fungi - English Nature is contributing
toward this project to produce a computerised database and published checklist of the Basidiomycotina
or Higher Fungi.
The Wild Mushroom Pickers' Code of Conduct - many landowners have expressed concerns over
the possible adverse effects on wildlife of the indiscriminate picking of fungi. English Nature worked
together with a number of organisations to produce a voluntary code of conduct. This was published
along with a booklet (English Nature 1999) which explains the value of fungi in nature and the
conservation issues involved.
The Veteran Trees Initiative - this initiative was funded by English Nature and ran from 1996 to
2000. The partnership has run training events, hosted a symposium and developed a standard method
of surveying veteran trees. It has just issued a practical management handbook and guidance on tree
safety issues (Read 2000). English Nature has also provided funding this year to the Ancient Tree
Forum to enable them to develop their capacity to continue this work.
Conservation work planning and co-ordination - Plantlife has organised a working group to co-
ordinate the efforts of the many organisations involved with fungal conservation. The group is called
the Fungus Conservation Forum and will meet twice yearly. So far there have been two meetings, both
of which have been very worthwhile.
2000 and beyond-
Several projects are likely to go ahead this year. A project to identify important areas for fungi is
already being organised by Plantlife. This will be an initial assessment based on the opinions of local
mycologists across the country. An essential part of this project is to develop criteria for the selection
of these important areas of fungi; criteria need to be developed from the selection of species groups
with similar ecological requirements. In this way, broad management prescriptions can be developed
to maintain and possibly enhance or extend that particular mycological interest. From this, it can be
determined whether these important sites for fungi are being appropriately managed and whether they
need greater protection. English Nature is contributing funds toward the development of these criteria
and the questionnaire that will be sent out to local mycologists.
Over the next two years, the British Mycological Society is intending to develop management guidelines
for fungal conservation. English Nature and a number of other conservation bodies are also likely to be
closely involved in this work. One possibility would be to combine training opportunities for conservation
staff and management workshops with the BMS. This will have the duel function of providing input
into the management guidelines as well as better equipping conservation staff across the country to
meet the need of fungal conservation. Management guidelines should be closely linked to the species
groups developed as part of the selection criteria mentioned above. This will allow direct comparison
to existing management prescriptions.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)