One of autumn’s quieter spectacles is getting its own guided outing in East Cleveland, with a free fungus foray planned at Lockwood Beck in October.
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and Cleveland Naturalists Field Club will lead the walk on Saturday 24 October from 10am to 12.30pm, helping visitors spot and identify fungi around the reserve.
No specialist knowledge is needed. The organisers are explicitly welcoming people who know their waxcaps from their puffballs and people who simply know that mushrooms appear when the weather turns damp. Experts will be on hand to help identify what the group finds and explain more about the role fungi play in woodland and other habitats.
October is a particularly good time to go looking. Cooler temperatures and wetter ground can bring fruiting bodies into view, turning dead wood, leaf litter and grassy edges into a temporary catalogue of shapes and colours that can be easy to miss on an ordinary walk.
The session is free and there is no need to book. The group will meet at Lockwood Beck car park, near Lingdale, and visitors are advised to dress for the weather and wear footwear suitable for potentially muddy conditions. Donations to the Wildlife Trust are welcome but not required.
Details are available directly from Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. The Trust’s current events calendar independently lists the same date and time.