Field Journal

The Wonderful World of Russulas

Scarlet, violet, primrose and green, Russulas are among our most beautiful fungi and our most frustrating. Discover what makes the brittlegills so tricky and the key features that unlock them.

Recording

UK Knife Law for Field Mycologists

A small knife is one of the most useful tools in a mycologist's kit, but the wrong one could land you in court. Here's what UK knife law says, what changed in 2026, and how to keep your kit legal.

Recording

How to Improve Your Observations: Photos and Details That Get Fungi Identified

A few extra photos and a couple of simple notes can turn an unidentifiable mushroom into a confirmed record. Here's exactly what to photograph and what to note down to give your observations the best chance.

Recording

How to Become an Identifier on Field Mycologist

Identifiers are the members trusted to help confirm other people's identifications, and every one of them started exactly where you are now. Here's what they do, why it matters, and how you can join them.

News

What’s New on Field Mycologist: Profiles, Identifiers and Badges

Public recorder profiles, a new Identifier role that keeps our records reliable, and nine badges to earn. Here's a quick tour of the biggest update yet to Field Mycologist, and what it means for you.

Recording

A History of Mycology in the UK

From Bolton's Halifax engravings to the NBN Atlas holding over 2.5 million fungal records, the history of British mycology is a story of stubborn curiosity.

Conservation

An Introduction to UK Protected Fungi Species

Only four of the UK's 15,000 fungi species carry the full protection of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Picking any one of them is a criminal offence. Here's what they are and why their locations must stay secret.

Research

Rewriting the Book on European Entolomas

Fifteen European mycologists rewrite Entoloma taxonomy: 29 new species, 694 DNA sequences, and a molecular revolution in pink-spored mushroom identification.

Recording

Why Recording Fungi Matters

Discover why recording fungi matters more than you might think and how you can contribute to protecting these remarkable organisms that sustain our ecosystems.