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Image by Natasha Scott from the 2024 photography competition: 'Pinwheels a plenty', taken in Tehidy Woods, Cornwall.
What is UK Fungus Day all about?
UK Fungus Day is an annual celebration of our fungal world, offering something for everyone. Alongside the many UK-based groups, museums, universities and research centres offering a chance to join fungus walks, view fungi collections and visit exhibitions of the latest fungal science and technology, UK Fungus Day invites everyone to join in, delve deeper and learn more about fungi through art and performance, crafts and creations, online talks, quizzes and competitions.
Photo by Will Brantingham, UK Fungus Day 2024 photography competition 2nd runner up.
Life on Earth would not exist without fungi!
Without the recycling activities of fungi, the world’s ecosystems would soon run out of nutrients. Plants without their fungal mycorrhizal partners to deliver water and nutrients, would not be able to grow and food would quickly become depleted.
Some fungi are also pathogens - of plants, humans, frogs, bats, soft coral, bees - and in certain cases are causing widespread decline of animal or plant populations. In humans, certain fungi can cause invasive infections which contribute to high death rates in individuals suffering from AIDS and cancer, and others can cause irritating infections of our skin. They can even poison us.
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However, few fungi actually cause a nuisance to the healthy individual. And, without fungi, animals and plants could not - and would not - exist.
How much do you know?
Download our fungus-themed quiz here and test your knowledge, or take it to your pub to incorporate into an autumn pub quiz, or just have fun at home and find out what you do or don't know. NOTE: The answers are on the last page so don't look ahead if you want to test yourself!