New Field Guide

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Just Published:

Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools: The Essential Photograph Guide to Britain's Fungi Collins Complete Guides: Amazon.co.uk: Paul Sterry, Barry Hughes: Books

[JennyS]

Thank you - just ordered a copy

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Originally Posted by JennyS

Thank you - just ordered a copy

No other reviews available yet so let us know what you think of it Jenny

[JennyS]

As I've no knowledge of fungi whatsoever I might not be the best person around to comment on it!

[RobSutton]

I think there is a certainty that it won't be "Complete". I suspect the photos will be pretty good if his other books in the series are anything to go by.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

I think there is a certainty that it won't be "Complete". I suspect the photos will be pretty good if his other books in the series are anything to go by.

agreed Rob - I would envisage excellent photographs of all the 'usual suspects' with a few more unusual ones thrown in . . .

but we'll see

Chris

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

...I would envisage excellent photographs of all the 'usual suspects' with a few more unusual ones thrown in...

Just taken delivery of this latest "picture book" Chris, and if I were to be clinical about it, you are undoubtedly correct.

However, I have to say, that as a "just about pocketable" field guide, (at about 13x21cm it's quite a bit smaller than Jordan & Phillips), my first impressions are that it's very good.

The photographs are quite superb, and it does indeed contain numerous species not included in other books I have.
The text is, as might be expected in a book containing so many species, (over 1500 photos), somewhat limited, but nevertheless, on a par with other generalised fieldguides.

I particularly like the inclusion of sections for lichenised fungi, woodchip fungi, dung fungi, basic guides to fungi by habitat - ie. different types of woodland, bogs & marshes, grasslands, etc. etc., and a useful guide to recognising trees and shrubs.

Haven't had time to scrutinise it for errors yet, but apart from anything blatantly obvious, probably wouldn't recognise them anyway.

I think this is destined to become my book of choice to carry when out and about, and would say that for the price, (got mine via WHSmith online for £10.87), would be a good addition to every fungi lovers book collection.

Regards,
Mike.

[NickCantle]

Will order it upon that short review Mike!

[Chris Yeates]

while I still consider myself a novice in many ways I think that the time I made a major mycological jump was when I stopped carrying field guides around with me - ornithological ones and mycological ones that is - I still carried the splendid old Collins wildflower guide by McLintock and Fitter (very poor plates by today's standards - but unparalleled descriptions)

I would record the fungi I had learnt and felt confident about identifying in the field and then would take everything else back home (when I say everything - I would force myself not to take more than half a dozen or so collections back - but good collections where there were several specimens at different stages of development); for the birds I would make field notes

digital cameras make the recording of habitat, what something looks like in the field etc. so much more easy, but the danger is that with that ease you can become sloppy and don't really look at a fungus - a sketchy drawing could teach you a lot in those days - maybe we have it a little too easy?

(Discuss in not more than 1500 words - please write on at least one side of the paper - time allowed 45 minutes )

lol

C

over and out . . .

[NickCantle]

To be perfectly honest I'd never take it out with me anyway. I don't carry any literature with me- I can't be reading books and referencing accurately when I've got daylight to find the fungi!