Wakelam's Wilderness: Fabulous Fungi, find them in Suffolk Published Nov. 16, 2009 By Judith Wakelam 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- In the county of Suffolk alone, there are said to be as many as 4,000 different Fungi, and October is a very good month to look for them. We have a variety of habitats in nature reserves and country parks within easy reach of RAF Mildenhall. The fungi most familiar to us is the edible field mushroom; the inedible varieties being commonly referred to as toadstools. One that most of us can recall from childhood is the red and white spotted Fly Agaric so often featured in fairy stories. Unfortunately, it is highly poisonous as is the aptly named Death Cap. Just because some fungi are potentially dangerous this should not put you off. In fact many are very much sought after for their culinary qualities but the skill is in knowing just which ones they are. I prefer to err on the side of caution. Others can be medically beneficial - where would we all be without Penicillin - derived from one of the mould fungi? Along with bacteria fungi play an essential role in breaking down dead organic matter. They literally come in all shapes, colours and sizes and in this age of digital cameras it's very easy to take a snap-shot and armed with a good Field Guide (The Base Library may have one) identify them when you get home. They can be found growing almost anywhere - on decaying wood, dead and live tree trunks as well as on the ground. Some have wonderfully apt names that conjure up mental pictures such as: Brain fungus, Orange Peel, Bracket, Beefsteak, Puff-ball, and Stinkhorn to name but a few. It's wiser to observe rather than touch those that you cannot identify with absolute certainty. Look, but do not touch, is a very good maxim to adopt with all of nature, be it flora or fauna. A fungi foray is an absorbing way to spend a few hours on a dry, bright, autumn day and can be enjoyed by all the family. It will get you away from the TV and computer and you'll be surprised how quickly a few hours will fly by. You will have got some exercise in the fresh air and worked up a healthy appetite by the time you get home. Please, remember when walking in the countryside to obey all signs and to leave behind nothing but footprints. Our countryside is only on loan to us. Watch your local press as they sometimes advertise guided fungi forays at this time of the year. For information on wildlife areas in Suffolk contact: http://www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk http://www.english-nature.org.uk (Editor's note: this article originally ran in October 2007)