WORKSHOP – Fungus Discovery Workshop

retford park, bowral

Fungus Discovery Workshop
What are all those fungi doing there in the landscape?

How do they help ecosystems function?

And which are delicious and which are deadly?

This workshop introduces participants to the diversity, ecology and curiosities of the Kingdom Fungi, specific to fungi found in the region but also within wider Australian and global contexts.

This workshop includes an interactive session on the basics of fungus identification, where participants will get to handle, examine and identify various fungi.

Participants will also learn to recognise the various diagnostic characteristics used to identify fungi in the field. Fungi will be discussed in regard to their ecological roles and also cultural aspects such as edibility and toxicity and the importance of fungi in biodiversity conservation.

We will then partake in an exciting foray through various local ecosystems to search for species of interest.

Participants are encouraged to bring along mushrooms for identification at the workshop.

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

BOOKINGS OPEN 29 APRIL 2025

DATE: THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025

LOCATION: MORNINGTON, VIC

TIME: 10:00am–2pm

BOOKINGS: This workshop is for members of Landcare and Friends Group Networks of the Mornington Peninsula. Bookings open 29 April 2025.

 

 

WORKSHOP – Fungus Discovery Workshop

Fungus Discovery Workshop
What are all those fungi doing there in the landscape?

How do they help ecosystems function?

And which are delicious and which are deadly?

This workshop introduces participants to the diversity, ecology and curiosities of the Kingdom Fungi, specific to fungi found in the region but also within wider Australian and global contexts.

This workshop includes an interactive session on the basics of fungus identification, where participants will get to handle, examine and identify various fungi.

Participants will also learn to recognise the various diagnostic characteristics used to identify fungi in the field. Fungi will be discussed in regard to their ecological roles and also cultural aspects such as edibility and toxicity and the importance of fungi in biodiversity conservation.

We will then partake in an exciting foray through various local ecosystems to search for species of interest.

Participants are encouraged to bring along mushrooms for identification at the workshop.

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

BOOKINGS OPEN 29 APRIL 2025

DATE: FRIDAY 30 MAY 2025

LOCATION: MORNINGTON, VIC

TIME: 10:00am–2pm

BOOKINGS: This workshop is for members of Landcare and Friends Group Networks of the Mornington Peninsula. Bookings open 29 April 2025.

 

 

WORKSHOP – Fungus Ecology & ID

Fungus Ecology and Identification Workshop

Relative to plants and animals, the diversity and significance of fungi is little known. Yet fungi are vital in creating and stabilising soils, nourishing and interconnecting plants, recycling nutrients, retaining and filtering water, restoring environmental damage and essentially underpinning ecosystem health and resilience.

This workshop introduces participants to the diversity of the Kingdom Fungi and the basic principles of fungus identification, including fungi from the various local habitat types and those from further afield.

Participants will learn how to identify fungi using the senses, field guides, magnifiers and other resources. We will also discuss the basics of fungus survey and monitoring and the conservation significance of fungi.

Following an interactive session around the specimen table, we will head to a local reserve to search for fungi of interest.

 

Participants are encouraged to bring along mushrooms for identification at the workshop.

This workshop is generously sponsored by Main Creek Landcare.

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

BOOKINGS OPEN IN LATE APRIL

DATE: SUNDAY 1 JUNE 2025

LOCATION: Main Creek, Mornington Peninsula, VIC

TIME: 10:00am–2pm

COST: Open to Main Creek Landcare members. Free to attend but places are limited and bookings essential.

BOOKINGS: Adrienne adriennemjs@gmail.com

 

RETREAT – Fungus Discovery Retreat

Three Day Fungus Discovery Retreat in the Tarkine Wilderness
Once overlooked, fungi are the exhilarating new poster organisms capturing our imaginations and reconfiguring our understanding of the natural world.
With their magnificent colours and curious forms, fungi delight and intrigue, and the Tarkine Rainforest is the perfect fungal hotspot to get to know them.
Through highly interactive, hands-on seminars, discussions and exciting forays through the rainforest, you’ll discover the ecological and cultural importance of a great range of fungi.
The three day package includes all meals and a range of accommodation options that you can view here.

 

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

BOOKINGS: reservations@corinna.com.au

DATE: TUESDAY 3 JUNE to FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2025

LOCATION: Corinna Wilderness Village, 1 Corinna Road, Corinna, Tasmania

COST: variable depending on accommodation option.

BOOKINGS: reservations@corinna.com.au

BOOK TALK – Funga Obscura

Book Talk: Funga Obscura–Photo Journeys Among Fungi

Alison’s latest book is about fungi, and the photography of fungi.

The title – Funga Obscura – unites the two.

Beginning in elemental landscapes of ice and rock, the book traces the evolutionary path of fungi as enablers of life on land, and creators of soils and forests.

Crossing continents and ecosystems, we navigate lichen-covered landscapes, crawl in the fungal undergrowth, scale glacial extremes and duck between rainforest shadows.

Please join us at Not Just Books in Burnie to hear some stories of her adventures in the photographing and writing of the book.

Signed copies of Funga Obscura and Alison’s previous titles will be available for purchase.

For the full listing of further launches and events, please see here.

BOOKINGS

DATE: FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2025

TIME: 3:00pm–4:30pm

LOCATION: Not Just Books, 40 Wilson Street, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia

TICKETS: $5*

(*Will be discounted off the purchase on the day of Alison’s new book – Funga Obscura)

BOOK SIGNING – Funga Obscura

SHELLHARBOUR

Book Signing: Funga Obscura–Photo Journeys Among Fungi

Alison’s latest book is about fungi, and the photography of fungi.

The title – Funga Obscura – unites the two.

Beginning in elemental landscapes of ice and rock, the book traces the evolutionary path of fungi as enablers of life on land, and creators of soils and forests.

Crossing continents and ecosystems, we navigate lichen-covered landscapes, crawl in the fungal undergrowth, scale glacial extremes and duck between rainforest shadows.

Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura will be available for purchase.

Please come to meet the author and have your copies of her books signed.

For the full listing of further launches and events, please see here.

SAVE THE DATE!

DATE: SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2025

TIME: 10:30 – 12 noon

LOCATION: Petrarchs Bookshop, 89 Brisbane Street, Launceston, Tasmania

 

BOOK TALK – Funga Obscura

Book Talk: Funga Obscura–Photo Journeys Among Fungi

Alison’s latest book is about fungi, and the photography of fungi.

The title – Funga Obscura – unites the two.

Beginning in elemental landscapes of ice and rock, the book traces the evolutionary path of fungi as enablers of life on land, and creators of soils and forests.

Crossing continents and ecosystems, we navigate lichen-covered landscapes, crawl in the fungal undergrowth, scale glacial extremes and duck between rainforest shadows.

Please join us at Fullers Bookshop to hear some stories of her adventures in the photographing and writing of the book.

Signed copies of Funga Obscura and Alison’s previous titles will be available for purchase.

Bookings open soon at the Fullers’ events page.

For the full listing of further launches and events, please see here.

BOOKINGS OPEN SOON!

DATE: TUESDAY 10 JUNE 2025

TIME: 5:30PM–6:30PM

LOCATION: FULLERS BOOKSHOP, 131 COLLINS STREET, HOBART, TASMANIA

BOOKINGS OPEN SOON!

TALK & LAUNCH – Fabulous Fungi

Book Launch, Talk & Conversation: Fabulous Fungi

The earth’s rapidly changing climate and environmental issues have come into sharp focus through the demise of charismatic megafauna and the ‘biodiversity crisis’.

But what about stinkhorns and slime moulds?

How do fungi and their kin get our attention when they’re overshadowed by more ‘popular’ organisms?

Over the last three decades, Alison has trawled through forests around the world, working both with fungi and their followers. She has been actively involved in fungal research, education and conservation.

In this talk Alison will share some stories of her adventures during the writing and photographing of her recent book, Funga Obscura – Photo Journeys Among Fungi.

Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura will be available for purchase.

For the full listing of events, please see here.

This event is hosted by the Friends of Mallacoota.

BOOKINGS OPEN SOON

SAVE THE DATE!

DATE: TUESDAY 17 JUNE

TIME: 7PM

LOCATION: Mallacoota Mudbrick Pavilion

COST: $10 including supper

SAVE THE DATE, BOOKINGS OPEN SOON

FORAY – Foray among Fungi in Mimosa Rocks NP

Foray among Fungi in Mimosa Rocks National Park

The Kingdom Fungi is a kingdom of conundrums. Who are these curious organisms and what exactly are they doing out there in the landscape?

Although little known relative to animal and plants, fungi are fundamental to forest health and resilience. They create and stabilise soils, nourish and interconnect plants. They provide us with food and beverages, textiles and building materials, medicines and more.

As we wander through the forest we’ll search for fungi, learn to identify them, and explore questions around their natural and cultural histories.

How do we differentiate the desirable from the deadly? How can fungi help us ‘read’ the history of the forest? And how might fungi wobble the assumptions we use to understand nature?

We’ll discuss these ideas and your questions as we hunt for fungi in this fungal hotspot.

For the full listing of events, please see here.

BOOKINGS

DATE: FRIDAY 20 JUNE

TIME: 1:00pm  – 2:30pm

LOCATION: Tanja Lagoon Camp, 142 Haigh’s Road, Tanja, NSW, Australia

COST: $45

BOOKINGS

BOOK LAUNCH & SOIREE – Cafe Champignon

KEYNOTE: Café Champignon: Book Launch & Soiree

Following in the French tradition of Café Philosophique, Café Champignon brings the curiosities of the Kingdom Fungi into active conversation. In this interactive seminar and discussion Alison will introduce us to both the science and aesthetics of fungi. She’ll share her experiences in the field with conservation groups and rangers, First Nations people and farmers, scientists and artists and others to ponder these curious organisms through multiple lenses. In particular, we’ll explore how we might navigate the tensions between ecology, aesthetics and conservation.

We will also launch Alison’s new book, which is both about fungi, and the photography of fungi. The title – Funga Obscura – unites the two. Through her stories we’ll cross continents and ecosystems, navigate lichen-covered landscapes, crawl in the fungal undergrowth, scale glacial extremes and duck between rainforest shadows.

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a light supper and there will be drinks available for purchase and the opportunity to purchase signed copies of Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura.

For the full listing of events, please see here.

BOOKINGS

DATE: FRIDAY 20 JUNE

TIME: 6PM – 8PM

LOCATION: Bermagui Community Centre, 3-5 Bunga St, Bermagui, NSW, Australia

COST: $25

BOOKINGS