Meeting 1st July 2013 - Scottish Natural Heritage

Allan Morrison was in the chair this week at Seagate Rotary for his first full meeting as President, and the speaker for the evening was Graham Walker of Scottish Natural Heritage.  Graham gave a fascinating illustrated discourse on fungi, that vast division of organisms ranging from yeasts and moulds to lichens and mushrooms. 

Fungi are neither plant nor animal, yet display some characteristics and behaviours from both.  Whilst some cause rots and plant and animal diseases, overall they are a vital part of the ecosystem, breaking down and recycling dead matter and providing minerals and nutrients to growing plants.

Inevitably questions were asked about collecting wild mushrooms, and the advice was only to do that under the guidance of a genuine expert.  It is easy to confuse nutritious fungi with their poisonous neighbours, and books can never show the full range of variations in each species.  A Vote of Thanks was proposed by Past President Fiona Lee.

In two weeks time the club is to be instructed by former expat Donald Menzies in the intricacies of Balut, a pastime that is set to become the biggest craze since Bridge and Bingo.  Check it on the web.