Autumn Fungi

Over the past few months, I have been working on a submission for a show garden at RHS Hampton Court. The inspiration for the design is mycelium and its applications in sustainable design and bio and phyto remediation. I have had a fascination for fungi since early childhood (though I detested the taste of mushrooms up until a few years ago) and wanted to showcase them in a garden scenario. 

Stemming from my own personal research into microfiltration and its applications in urban areas, I have been researching the ways mycelium can be used to break down hydrocarbons, remediate heavy metals and even be grown as environmentally friendly building materials. To showcase this work I will be dedicating the next few posts to the research I have been investigating and the designs I have been working on.

Below are some of my own images taken on an autumn walk on Crickly Hill just outside Cheltenham. The mushroom species are from left to right, Mycena haematopus known commonly as bleeding fairy helmet. the middle is a type of Hebeloma though I am unsure of the specific species, either sinapizans or crustuliniforme, however, I know it is poisonous. And the last is Trametes versicolor, known commonly as turkey tail. Which interestingly enough, has shown uses in the treatment of breast cancer.