Hundreds of visitors joined researchers from the Department of Plant Sciences and across the University of Cambridge plant biology community for this year’s Fungi Field Day. The event, organised by Dr Jen McGaley from the Department of Plant Sciences and Dr Raphaella Hull from Cambridge University Botanic Garden, was held at the Botanic Garden in celebration of World Fungus Day.
This World Fungus Day, an estimated 900 visitors headed to the Cambridge University Botanic Garden to celebrate fungi and their relationship with plants, through guided tours, expert talks, games, science, art and many more activities. Visitors of all ages were buzzing with enthusiasm, excitement and curiosity for fungi.
Stands run by volunteers from across the Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, the Cambridge University Mycological Society, and the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire were a hive of activity. As ever, mushroom face painting proved a highlight, particularly – but not exclusively – for younger visitors.
The programme included talks by Dr Alan Wanke, Dr Jen McGaley and Dr Tom Thirkell from the University of Cambridge, Annabel Howland from Norwich University of the Arts, and Dr Muhammad Usman from the Natural History Museum, London. These sessions covered diverse fungi-related topics, from microscopy to art, and from lichens to farming, and attracted large audiences.
Fungi tours led by Botanic Garden guides Margaret Goddin and Elizabeth Rushden, following trails designed by Dr McGaley and Brigid Wong – a PhD student in the Department of Plant Sciences at Cambridge – were another big hit. Recent rainfall brought some unexpected fungal additions to the routes, delighting visitors and guides alike.
The School’s Garden was transformed into a fungus-inspired ‘Fantastical Forest’, thanks to the ‘Artscaping’ provided by the arts and wellbeing charity Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination. Alongside opportunities to paint with mushrooms and natural inks, a team of mini-mycologists embarked on fungus sampling ‘expeditions’. Their carefully collected samples will be stained and imaged to reveal the microscopic mycorrhizal fungi living in the Garden.
Dr McGaley said: “Fungi are some of the most amazing and important organisms on our planet. But they are also some of the most overlooked and underappreciated. This is why we started running the Fungi Field Day – to bring the fungal kingdom into the spotlight.”
“This year's event was a joy to take part in. The enthusiasm shown by visitors, whether experienced mycologists or first-time fungal-forayers, was fantastic to see. If the Fungi Field Day sparked even the smallest increase in awareness, appreciation or connection to fungi, then all those hours of event organising were more than worthwhile!”
Dr Hull added: “It was a pleasure to host Fungi Field Day at the Botanic Garden and welcome visitors of all ages to engage with the fascinating world of fungi. Events like this offer a wonderful opportunity to bring science to life, share knowledge and inspire curiosity about the natural world. The Garden provides such a rich setting for learning and exploration, and it was lovely to see so much enthusiasm as visitors discovered more about the important role fungi play in our world.”
The Fungi Field Day would not have been possible without a brilliant team of volunteers from the Crop Science Centre, Botanic Garden, Sainsbury Laboratory, and wider Department of Plant Sciences and University of Cambridge. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, expertise and enthusiasm to make the event such a success.
Dr McGaley is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Cereal Symbiosis group. She researches arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and how they partner with and can benefit important crops such as maize and rice. She is also passionate about sharing the fascinating world of fungi with the public through her public engagement work.
- Read more about Dr Jen McGaley and her work: Mycorrhiza in motion
Images: Top of page: Cambridge researchers and visitors at the Fungi Field Day. Credit: Chen Liu / University of Cambridge; Bottom of page: a selection of fungi found on the day (left to right): Coral Fungi; Chicken of the Woods; Bird's Nest Fungi. Credit: Jen McGaley / University of Cambridge.