Foray among Fungi in Bega Valley National Park with Alison Pouliot

The Kingdom Fungi is a kingdom of conundrums. Who are these curious organisms and what exactly are they doing out there in the landscape? Although little known relative to animal and plants, fungi are fundamental to forest health and resilience. They create and stabilise soils, nourish and interconnect plants. They provide us with food and beverages, textiles and building materials, medicines and more. As we wander through the forest we’ll search for fungi, learn to identify them, and explore questions around their natural and cultural histories. How do we differentiate the desirable from the deadly? How can fungi help us ‘read’ the history of the forest? And how might fungi wobble the assumptions we use to understand nature? We’ll discuss these ideas and your questions as we hunt for fungi in this fungal hotspot.