Dear Ascofrance community,

It is disappointing news that Melleasco has been cancelled this year. I sincerely hope that it will be possible see it back on the programme in 2015.

For those within the Ascofrance community who would like to meet up with others to look at Ascomycetes, we in the UK have already organised a week in May to study these organisms. This is part of the British Mycological Society programme see: http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/field-meetings/programme/2014-stainborough/  we have the capacity to include other colleagues from Europe. We would be happy to offer our event as an alternative to the one in Mellasco and we would welcome your participation.

Some notes on the event:

We will be based in South Yorkshire at Wentworth castle. http://www.northern.ac.uk/content/?id=11

 This is a college for adults who did not succeed whilst at school. We will be using rooms within the college as workroom (lab) and staying in single, double or twin ensuite rooms on site. We will eat in the refectory with the students.  Self service basic food. (This is to keep the costs down.) There is a Bar open in the evening. We will visit different sites each day, sharing car transport and taking with us a simple individual picnic snack of sandwich fruit drink and biscuit. Return at 2-3 pm to work on specimens. We have two experienced UK experts with us to help individuals if they are needed. Dr Paul Cannon  (RBG Kew and formerly CABI) will assist with the identification of the pyrenomycetes and Chris Yeates will assist with other groups. (Please note it appears that this is a pyrenomycete workshop on our web page, this is not the case.)

At the end of the week Chris Yeates will run a beginners course on ascomycete basics and hopes to cover most orders and cover basic handling and identification techniques. This will be in a separate area as it is a formal workshop specifically aimed at beginners and for those who wish to improve their skills. The main meeting will continue to run alongside in the main room.

Most of the time will be spent working on material collected, exchanging help with an occasional presentation of a collection found that is interesting  (projection microscope)or a powerpoint on a topic; though this is kept to the minimum as people value the time spending on specimens and sharing knowledge.

The vicinity is varied,we  have some interesting sites to visit,  in May we expect it to be warming up and can be good for ascos. We have moorland, industrial sites, broadleaved woodland, alder carrs, willow carrs, Conifer plantation and sandy areas all nearby for collecting.

We are on coal measures and shale but within 10 miles to the east we have magnesium limestone and sands; to the west we have carboniferous limestone's and millstone grits.

Nearby airports are at Manchester, Leeds, East midlands but this limits equipment (you may have seen my basic stuff which I had put into my suitcase at Someido) However the BMS has 6 microscopes 3 compound and 3 stereo which would be available for use to borrow during the event.

 For those who have not visited UK, one can drive up from the channel on main motorway roads but as our country is smaller and the population excessive these roads can be busy.

Booking forms are at the British Mycological Site link or available from me at the following email address foraymanager@tiscali.co.uk.%20">foraymanager@tiscali.co.uk.  I can also supply further information. I need to confirm final numbers with the college in early March when I collect final payment. Please email me first to see if places remain before booking. I hope to welcome you to Yorkshire.

amites

Caroline Hobart British Mycological Society foray manager

I'm grateful to Christian Lechat for allowing me to post this