Local expert Ray Woods returns to give us another insight into the world of nature. He writes …

Why are we such a mycophobic nation?

Yet every morning we should give thanks to fungi as we butter our toast, add milk to our tea or coffee and reach for our medications. Fungi help shape the landscape about us for good or evil. But still we have made scant attempt at understanding their diversity and care even less for their conservation. We will explore why this has to change.

I promise you won’t look at a dung beetle in the same way ever again, will even want to look after rusts and smuts and will hopefully understand why Mynydd Epynt must now be viewed as one of the most important sites for biodiversity in Britain, Europe and the World.

Speaker biography

Ray came to Mid Wales in 1973 working for the Nature Conservancy in Radnorshire. Following reorganisations, he eventually managed a staff of over 70 in the Countryside Council for Wales in East Wales responsible for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves, farm conservation schemes etc. He then worked for Plantlife as their Lower Plant Development Officer for Wales.

Now retired, Ray is a past President of the British Lichen Society, an Honorary Lecturer in the University of Aberystwyth, a vice-president of the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust and a member the Wales Advisory Committee of the Woodland Trust. He also serves on a number of conservation committees.

Ray has written books and articles on the flora of Mid Wales, is co-author of the British Red Data Book of Lichens and author of the Welsh Red Data List of Lichens and lectures on matters concerning wildlife conservation and sustainable land use. With co-authors he has of late produced an awards-winning series of guides to fungi living on vascular plants.

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