Why families are being urged to look closer on autumn walks
Experts in the West Midlands are encouraging families to look closely at the ground during autumn walks to discover the region's diverse and often hidden fungal species. Enthusiasts have recently recorded rare finds, including the red cage fungus in Birmingham, highlighting the variety of shapes and colors available in local woodlands and parks. While interest in fungi foraging is growing, specialists strongly advise against consuming wild mushrooms due to the risk of severe poisoning from toxic species.
- ▪James Benwell of the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust notes that searching for fungi can transform ordinary walks into adventurous experiences for families.
- ▪The rare red cage fungus was recently spotted in Cannon Hill Park, marking only the second recorded sighting of the species in the Birmingham and Black Country area.
- ▪Experts urge the public to photograph and record their findings rather than picking mushrooms, as many wild species are toxic and can cause death.
- ▪Interest in fungi has increased in recent years, with organizations like the West Midlands Fungus Group regularly attracting new members to their activities.
- ▪The death cap mushroom is identified by the Woodland Trust as the species responsible for most fungus-related fatalities in the UK.
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| Publication time | Sun, 27 Sep 2026 06:25:05 GMT |
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Why families are being urged to look closer on autumn walksImage source, James BenwellImage caption, James Benwell says searching for fungi can turn an ordinary family walk into an outdoor adventureByShehnaz KhanWest MidlandsPublishedJust nowFrom fairytale toadstools to fungi that look like birds' nests, experts say some of Britain's most unusual mushrooms are beginning to emerge as autumn arrives.Hidden in parks, woodlands and nature reserves, species ranging from the bright-red fly agaric to the rare red cage fungus can be found by anyone willing to slow down and take a closer look.For James Benwell, of the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, searching for fungi has become a way to explore the outdoors with his young son.He said mushroom spotting can transform an ordinary walk…
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