On 6th November we held the Scottish Botanists' Conference by Zoom, and around 250 people tuned in, with many participating through talks, posters and photographs entered into the 2021 BSBI Photographic Competition.
Videos of the talks will be available soon for those who missed this event on the actual day, but you can view the exhibits right now.
Again, this
will be a virtual link, which in some ways is more flexible, enabling people
from around Britain and Ireland (and overseas!) to join in, but it does involve much hard work
behind the scenes, so thanks to our staff and volunteers for putting on the
show, and thanks to our members for their contributions.
I have been getting down to it in the field also, although I have to admit that is more challenging as I get older and certainly getting up from the ground is even harder (image below of me and fellow fungi-hunters lying on a cricket pitch to take photographs - taken by my friend Sue Brindle).
However, there are some treasures to be found at ground level and with the generous amount of rain that has fallen during the past 3 weeks, many fungi have appeared very quickly, with different species emerging with each day.
I am by no means a mycologist but that does not mean I
cannot enjoy the sheer range and beauty of these ‘plants’ which have their own
kingdom. Their names are equally as fascinating, including Orange Peel (image top right), Plums and Custard, Penny Bun, Violet Coral (image above left)
and White Spindles. Please do leave these growing for others to see
and enjoy, and just get down to fully appreciate them.
