Hi there,

It’s mushroom season! Tiny purple amethyst deceivers in the leaf litter, jelly ears sprouting from dead branches, striped fans of turkey tail spreading across a log. The incredible red-and-white fairy-tale toadstool fly agaric! There’s something wonderfully improbable about finding these things in your local patch of woodland, just out there being extraordinary.

These are glimpses of an entire kingdom of life. Fungi are neither plants nor animals - and, fun fact, they’re more closely related to us than to trees. Around 15,000 fungal species have been reported in the UK alone. Globally, scientists estimate there are 2.5 million species, with more than 90% still awaiting formal scientific description. A vast, largely unexplored world, right here beneath our feet.

Then there’s their potential in our kitchens and medicine cabinets. Edible mushrooms provide B vitamins and minerals alongside their rich flavours. Turkey tail, which you can find here in Britain, contains compounds being studied for their effects on immune function, while early human studies are exploring lion’s mane’s potential for cognition and mood.

But searching for them is the real pleasure. One person spots something, everyone crouches down, and suddenly ten minutes have disappeared into examining a single branch. Foraging brings together fresh air, shared curiosity and the satisfaction of learning a landscape - and, with expert identification, sometimes something delicious for dinner. You can come home with an empty basket and still take away a head full of discoveries.

Join us for Fungi Foraging in West Sussex (24 Oct and 7 Nov), a Fungi Field Trip near Frome (25 Oct), or Fungi After Dark on Hampstead Heath (31 Oct), where UV torches reveal otherwise hidden colours. Fancy growing your own? Darren Le Baron’s Margate Shroomshop (2 Nov) explores cultivating gourmet and medicinal mushrooms at home.

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

As always, you can find all our upcoming events and retreats on our events page.

harmonising with nature

hot topics in psychedelics

community gatherings

therapy & integration

meditation & mindfulness

retreats & weekends

Participate in psychedelic research

Researchers at the University of Exeter are inviting women who have experienced endometriosis, adenomyosis, recurring UTIs, thrush, painful sex, pelvic floor dysfunction, pudendal neuralgia or other forms of pelvic pain to contribute to an MSc research project.

Whether your symptoms are in the past or present, your voice matters.

The research explores women’s lived experiences of chronic pelvic pain, embodied and somatic practices, and perspectives on psychedelic-assisted therapy, with the potential to inform future clinical research.

Anonymous online survey, approximately 20 minutes
No previous psychedelic experience required
Every experience and perspective is valuable

Complete the survey here: https://exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5uM5jakWXkUyE9E

Join our community of members!

We fund our work in community-building and psychedelic education primarily through our membership program.

By becoming a member of The Psychedelic Society community, you get access to exclusive members-only events, a discount on events, and support the development of this alternative cultural space. Membership starts from just £5/month!

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