MIchael Jordan & Fungi on BBC Radio 4

[Moonraker]

The latest episode of 'Open Country' was really great. It was focused on the area around here in East Devon and Dorset and included Michael Jordan the mushroom expert talking about fungi growing at the moment on Lewesdon Hill in Dorset. The other contributors are also fascinating including a local farmer talking about an historic hedgerow (a traditional Devon hedge type) which has been around since the Anglo Saxon period and his family have cared for it since the Mid C17th ! Tocuhes on the edibles and folklore etc too.

You can catch the programme again via 'Listen Again' here;

BBC Radio 4 - Open Country

Full details and other relevant links:

All around the country, leaves are turning from their summer greens to glorious shades of red, yellow, orange and russet, and this year has been particulary good for berries, nuts and fungi.

James Chubb, an education ranger for East Devon District Council, takes Helen to Holyford Wood, an oak wood which nestles within a deep-sided gorge close to the village of Seaton in West Devon. Here they search for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a bird not easily seen because of its size and its habit of foraging for grubs and insects high up in the tree canopy. Another shy creature is the dormouse, sometimes called the seven month sleeper. Ian Cox is in charge of the dormouse monitoring programme in the wood.

Lewesdon Hill is the highest point in Dorset and on its slopes the beechwood provides an ideal habitat for fungi. Michael Jordan the founder of The Association of British Fungus Groups points out some extraordinary species of mushrooms and toadstools. The floor of the wood is carpeted with genrations of leaves soon to be joined by more, and Michael explains the surprising process of how the leaves take on their autumnal colours and then drop.

Close by Holyford Wood is a magnificent example of a Devon hedge. This is made up of two sides known as combs with a walkway through the middle. Colin Pady whose family has farmed in the area for many generations explains to Helen how the hedge has been re-laid many times so that now, after over a thousand years of existence, the walkway itself is fifteen feet above ground level. Teeming at this time of year with hips, hawes and sloes the hedge has been a Parish boundary since Saxon times.

 

[jasons]

Is that the michael jordan that was in spacejam. tall feller sorry just jokeing Iam a bit of funguy

 

[Moonraker]

Is that the michael jordan that was in spacejam. tall feller

Yes, they hired him to come over to Dorset to pick all the high up apples

He did a series on TV a while ago called 'Mushroom Magic' and writes books books on fungi including the 'Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe'.

 

[dommyracer]

Is that the michael jordan that was in spacejam. tall feller

That's the first thing I thought as well - "THE Michael Jordan collecting funghi ??"

Seriously though, thanks for that moonraker - very good and informative as always!!

 

[leon-1]

That's the first thing I thought as well - "THE Michael Jordan collecting funghi ??"

Simon you have totally dispelled the mental image of Micheal Jordan going hell for leather after a fungi that was outdistanceing him at a hundred meters, then he started to gain on it a 200, at 300 he is within striking distance and at 400 he brings the mushroom down with a diving tackle before chopping it up and eating it with a full english breakfast

 

[Moonraker]

Simon you have totally dispelled the mental image of Micheal Jordan going hell for leather after a fungi that was outdistanceing him at a hundred meters, then he started to gain on it a 200, at 300 he is within striking distance and at 400 he brings the mushroom down with a diving tackle before chopping it up and eating it with a full english breakfast

Now Leon, if I had said Michael Johnson the 400 metre world champion runner then your joke would have been much funnier

I think you will find that the confusion is with that other fine American sportsman Michael Jordan the basketball player Neither of whom have been on Radio Four recently talking about fungi to the best of my knowledge.