Woodwise at Voltaire's Wood: Autumn Fungi Walks

Welcome to Voltaire's Wood, where there's an autumn gallery of fungi: let us show you around.

Voltaire's Wood is a 120-acre private estate of ancient woodland. We offer free, two-hour guided walks. Clair Cartwright, our Woodland Manager and ecologist, leads them. These walks cover general woodland ecology. This autumn, the focus is the weird and wonderful world of fungi

What we go looking for

Fungi is a fantastic thing. It breaks down deadwood, recycles nutrients, and connects with tree roots. Depending on the weather and the timing of your visit, we will go looking for specific species across the woodland floor and on decaying timber. What we might find:

• Turkey tail which forms multi-coloured tiers on fallen logs.
• Ink caps that dissolve into a black liquid as they mature.
• Jelly ear which clings to damp timber.
• Scarlet cups that hide in the leaf litter during cooler months.
• Dryad's saddle which grows in large brackets on broadleaf trees.
• Artist's brackets that form smooth shelves on dead trunks.
• Honey fungus which acts as a pathogen to living trees.
• King Alfred's Cakes: the legendary keeper of the spark.

This is an ecological discovery walk for enthusiasts. We do not collect fungi to eat. Our aim is to observe their forms and identify them in their natural habitat. No prior knowledge is necessary.

Event details

Tickets are free. The walk lasts two hours. The pace is slow.

The ground is uneven and gets muddy. You need long trousers and sturdy footwear. Wellies work best.

We have covered seating areas, toilets, hand-washing facilities, and a boot-washing station.

Booking

We need four participants to run a tour. You do not have to book all four tickets yourself. If total bookings for your session fall below four, we will contact you to arrange an alternative date.