New Field Guide

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by flaxton

And the pint you offered to buy me is the only reason I was comming to Clumber

Mal

So sorry I can't make it Mal. But having paid the £50 deposit to book the Base Camp there will be enough in the kitty to buy you all a pint or two....enjoy

David

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by cybershot

I bought mine, in 2007 via Amazon, from Bookbarn International for £24.75 + pp, and I know young Mr Cantle would be very interested in obtaining a copy.

Oh yes I would!

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by cybershot

So sorry I can't make it Mal. But having paid the £50 deposit to book the Base Camp there will be enough in the kitty to buy you all a pint or two....enjoy

David

It was your company (and the beer) I was looking forward to.

Mal

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by flaxton

It was your company (and the beer) I was looking forward to.

Mal

and the rest of us?

[JennyS]

I agree with everything that Alge has said above.

Like Rob also, I too came to fungi via photography, and primarily, as some of you may have noticed, that is where I am still at. Wherever possible, I try to take aesthetically pleasing (to me anyway) photos of my subjects, and part of the satisfaction, or completeness if you like, is identifying (or having identified on my behalf) exactly what it is that I've photographed.

My interest in fungi as a subject in its own right has grown immensely during the last twelve months, thanks wholly to the input from the more knowledgeable members of this forum, for which I am extremely grateful, but like Alge, I simply cannot afford to spend the best part of what might be around two thousand pounds, to obtain all the necessary academic books and microscopy equipment & sundries that would allow in depth study.

I wholeheartedly second Mikes reply, though in my case for 'Fungi' read 'Lichen' (but now fungi are slipping in too).

Many, many people today are becoming aware of more aspects of wildlife via their camera's and then thinking 'I wonder what this is?'
The good so-called 'Picture Books' give a really helpful introduction to a subject without leaving an aspiring novice feeling totally overwhelmed and discouraged.

I've now got the new 'The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland' but I can read Smith et.al's descriptions until I've got long words that I don't understand coming out of my ears and I feel totally stupid. I don't have much of an idea what the species actually looks like until I find a good illustration and then the description starts to make a bit more sense.

I am so thankful for the help I've received over the years from knowledgeable WAB members.
Southern Ireland is a long, long way behind the UK in environmental awareness. Most experts in the various fields guard their knowledge jealously here making things nigh on impossible for an amateur wanting to learn more or confirm or correct tentative identifications of possibly interesting species....

Sorry I went into a bit of a ramble but thank you WAB and all power to good illustrated guides!
Jenny

[ron1863]

My copy of "Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms & Toadstools" arrived this morning. This is the third "pocket guide" that I have bought, the other two, "Fungi" by Shelley Evans & Geoffrey Kibby and "A Field Guide to Mushrooms of Britain & Europe" by Helmut & Renate Grunert.
As Mike said, this one has sections for fungi found with Birch, Oak, Beech etc, as well as bogland, grassland. It is also much easier to navigate.
I would not classify the book "pocket guide" as would need to buy a jacket with a big pocket as it is not a small book. All in all, a lovely little book and well worth around £11.00 inc. delivery).

[earthdragon64]

I also got my copy this morning, just under £12 delivered. I've had a quick look through it, and like the layout and the really clear pictures of gill shape etc.

It's a bit large for normal pockets, but would fit in the map pocket of my waterproof jacket, although it would make bending at the waist a bit problematic.

[Fungalpunk]

Lancashire Lad Mike - just like to concur with you of the importance of encouraging everyone at all levels to enjoy the fungi. We all have different levels of time, resources and cash at our disposal and that does effect how far you can progress into the world of fungi. However as I always say 'enjoy fungi for what they are'. I plod along merrily and am way behind many a fine fungal moocher but make slow and steady progress. Mistakes are made, things are learned and things are forgot due to many other things in my life such as family, punk rock, grasshoppers, moths, plants, etc. etc. We can only do what we can do and as long as we are enjoying it then yeah - go for it and never frown upon those who know less be it though lack of resources or time.

I have many books that I pick up from here and there and even the most cheapest of tomes is worth picking up just for cross-reference and the joy at looking at different photos or plates and seing how things have changed. Second hand or those cheap bookshops are always worth a mooch aroiund and I have indeed picked up some cracking guides in the process. In fact Courtecuisse and Duhem was found for a tenner in such a way. I found a second copy somewhere else a few month later and though 'nah already got that' - what a puddin'.

Anyway to all and sundry enjoy the fungi and never fret about struggling with specimens that you can't ID. I know a few people who have been at it for years, have all the resources you could wish for and still struggle - it's part of the game I feel. Take a look at where you started and you may be amazed how much you do know now.

Fungalpunk Dave - not an expert but an enthusiast who is happy to admit the fungi have him beat but is prepared to take the beating with pride

[Ditiola]

Originally Posted by Fungalpunk

Anyway to all and sundry enjoy the fungi and never fret about struggling with specimens that you can't ID. I know a few people who have been at it for years, have all the resources you could wish for and still struggle - it's part of the game I feel. Take a look at where you started and you may be amazed how much you do know

I remember many years ago being on a foray with Professor Roy Watling who is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable mycologist in the UK and although identifying nearly all the finds in the field, when presented with a small brown fungus he said that” he had no idea what genus it belonged to" even after checking with the microscope, and I thought then that there is hope yet for us mere mortals! I feel very pleased if I can identify 50% of my finds.

Peter

[diggleken]

Birthday coming up - in the absence of marcel bons new one, this sounds good.
pretty much all Collins do is very good, birds and flowers at least are among the best, but as with those, the more you have the better.
Lets just hope its up to date with naming issues and changes.............
Cheers for pointing it out.
Ken