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Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch in 2026.

A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Join us for a fun and interactive train-the-trainer workshop designed especially for group leaders looking to host Waxcap Watch surveys.

Whether you’re leading community groups, volunteer teams, or educational sessions, this workshop provides structured guidance, practical activities, and leadership tools to help you pass on your learning effectively.

This online event will help you sharpen your skills and get ready to lead your team through the exciting world of waxcap fungi. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn, share, and connect with fellow enthusiasts in a relaxed and friendly setting!

By the end of the session, group leaders will be able to:

  • Explain the purpose and importance of Waxcap Watch
  • Teach participants how to spot and record waxcaps
  • Lead a safe and engaging outdoor session for volunteers with varying levels of experience
  • Share stories and data to motivate continuing involvement.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch in 2026.

A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Join us for a fun and interactive train-the-trainer workshop designed especially for group leaders looking to host Waxcap Watch surveys.

Whether you’re leading community groups, volunteer teams, or educational sessions, this workshop provides structured guidance, practical activities, and leadership tools to help you pass on your learning effectively.

This online event will help you sharpen your skills and get ready to lead your team through the exciting world of waxcap fungi. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn, share, and connect with fellow enthusiasts in a relaxed and friendly setting!

By the end of the session, group leaders will be able to:

  • Explain the purpose and importance of Waxcap Watch
  • Teach participants how to spot and record waxcaps
  • Lead a safe and engaging outdoor session for volunteers with varying levels of experience
  • Share stories and data to motivate continuing involvement.

Waxcap Watch: Getting Ready to Volunteer, Powys

This event has now sold out.

Every year hundreds of volunteers take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch, a citizen science programme that helps us to find waxcaps and other grassland fungi which are indicators of rare, species-rich grassland.

Knowing where waxcaps and other grassland fungi are thriving helps us pinpoint where fragments of ancient meadows survive, so we can protect them for the future.

This outdoor workshop will give you the confidence to get out there and take part in Waxcap Watch. It will cover:

  • How to take part in the survey
  • Where to go looking for waxcaps and other grassland fungi
  • How to recognise some of the growth forms of grassland fungi and their identifying features

Under the gentle guidance of Plantlife experts, you and other volunteers will develop skills and confidence during this interactive day of activities.

Sign up for this free 1 day outdoor workshop if you want to learn more about grassland fungi and are committed to taking part in Waxcap Watch 2025.

More about Gilfach Nature Reserve

For centuries Gilfach was a working hill farm, now it’s a spectacular nature reserve tucked away in the Marteg Valley in the heart of rural Mid Wales. Gilfach boasts an impressive 20 different species of Waxcap, making the reserve a place of international importance for some of the rarest species.

  • Park in the top car park at the Old Farmyard, not in the car park at Welcome Gateway.
  • Free parking is limited so car share if possible.
  • Toilets available at car park.
  • No food/water available on site.
  • Uneven, sloping ground.
  • Site is exposed so warm layers are essential.

Find out more about Gilfach here.

What You Need to Know

Waxcap Watch FAQs

  • What happens with the results from my survey?

    By taking a part in our survey you will help us to:

    • Discover previously unknown waxcap grassland sites across the UK
    • Get an indication of habitat condition at each site to aid more informed conversations with landowners and land managers
    • Make the case to policy makers for better protection for waxcaps
    • In Wales, we will look to share new findings with Natural Resources Wales, Fungus groups and other experts to investigate further
    • In Scotland, results from the survey will inform conversations with landowners on how best to restore and protect local waxcap grasslands in key project areas such as the Cairngorms National Park

    Much of this app is based on the work by Gareth Griffith, John Bratton and Gary Easton. Original publication: Griffith, G.W., Bratton, J.H. & Easton, G. (2004) Charismatic megafungi; the conservation of waxcap grasslands. British Wildlife. October 2004, pp 31-43.

  • How do I stay safe during a survey?

    You are responsible for your own health and safety; Plantlife do not accept any liability or responsibility for the wellbeing of surveyors. Similarly, they do not accept any liability or responsibility for damage to, or loss of, personal property.

    We always recommend visiting sites and undertaking surveys with someone else and taking the following precautions:

    – Check the forecast and make appropriate arrangements. If the weather changes you may need to rethink your plans.
    – Take care on uneven or slippery ground and keep to footpaths where necessary.
    – Take a mobile phone and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
    –  Most fungi are non-toxic; even toxic ones are safe to hold. However, always wash your hands after handling fungi.

  • What are my access rights?

    England and Wales

    Grassland fungi can be found across a variety of different sites, many of which are publicly accessible, such as playing fields, parks or cemeteries. Where there is no open access, keep to public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). If you plan to carry out a survey on private land, please make sure you obtain the landowner’s permission to access the site.

    Scotland

    Make sure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when carrying out this activity.

  • What if I don’t have a smart phone/tablet?

    Where possible, we would highly recommend using the Survey123 app to complete the survey. It is much more convenient to use, especially when filling in the survey outdoors. The Survey123 app allows you to view and/or edit surveys you’ve already submitted, submit surveys while offline, and save answers to avoid re-entering the same information.
    However, if using the app is not feasible, you can alternatively follow this link and then select ‘Open in browser’ to launch the survey in a web browser on your computer. If you choose this option, we recommend looking over the survey form first to see what information you will need to record when carrying out your survey.

  • What if there is no mobile data signal?

    You can still access and fill out the survey without mobile data but you must download the Survey123 app in order to do this.
    When connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, download the Survey123 app, as well as the Waxcap Watch survey. You can then begin capturing survey information without a data connection. Upon completing
    the survey, you will be given the option to ‘Save in Outbox’, please select this option (see below). In doing so, all your survey results will be stored locally on your device.

    When you are able to reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will need to submit your survey that has been saved in your Outbox. To do this, navigate to the survey summary page where you will see an ‘Outbox’
    folder. By clicking on this folder, you will be able to see the survey you filled out and can submit it by clicking ‘Send’ in the bottom right corner of the screen

More events

Free Online Event: What’s Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Free Online Event: What's Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Tue, 15 Sep 2026
19:00
Online | free

Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch survey.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session
A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

Wed, 9 Sep 2026
15:00 – 16:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session
A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

Tue, 8 Sep 2026
12:00 – 13:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Past events

UK National Meadows Day
A hay meadow in Pembrokeshire with a blue sky

UK National Meadows Day

Sat, 1 Jul 2023

Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day
Free – Booking Required

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary
A small twinflower plant growing on a lush green woodland floor
Virtual

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary

Thu, 31 Aug 2023
11:00 – 12:00
Online | free

Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.

Waxcap Watch: Grassland ID Training and Survey Day, Cairngorms, Scotland

Join Plantlife and Liz Holden, a local mycological expert, for a day out to learn about Waxcap grassland species, help us survey some new sites, and practice using the new version of the Plantlife Waxcap App.

Blackening Waxcap at Glen Clova, Cairngorms.
Come and join us to learn about beautiful colourful and sometimes rare grassland fungi in the Cairngorms. Liz is the lead mycologist on waxcap grasslands in Scotland and she will be leading the session, teaching how to recognise these fungi on what will hopefully be a varied and rich CHEGD (waxcap grassland) site.
Further information on the location will be announced closer to the time of the event, but it’s expected to be near Nethy Bridge.
We will also use the opportunity to learn how to use the new and improved version of the Waxcap Watch survey app. This app allows anyone to go out and survey a site for rare grassland fungi, and then feedback the data to us and relevant fungi recording groups. Hopefully you’ll feel confident enough to do some of your own surveys after this session.
The sites we’re surveying have not been fully surveyed before. We wanted to use the opportunity to engage with new landowners at sites we’ve noted as high potential, so you’ll be helping us to find new populations on the day, and we’re not exactly sure what we’ll see.
Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on site.
Refreshments: Volunteers are asked to bring a packed lunch and water on the day.

What You Need to Know

Waxcap Watch FAQs

  • What happens with the results from my survey?

    By taking a part in our survey you will help us to:

    • Discover previously unknown waxcap grassland sites across the UK
    • Get an indication of habitat condition at each site to aid more informed conversations with landowners and land managers
    • Make the case to policy makers for better protection for waxcaps
    • In Wales, we will look to share new findings with Natural Resources Wales, Fungus groups and other experts to investigate further
    • In Scotland, results from the survey will inform conversations with landowners on how best to restore and protect local waxcap grasslands in key project areas such as the Cairngorms National Park

    Much of this app is based on the work by Gareth Griffith, John Bratton and Gary Easton. Original publication: Griffith, G.W., Bratton, J.H. & Easton, G. (2004) Charismatic megafungi; the conservation of waxcap grasslands. British Wildlife. October 2004, pp 31-43.

  • How do I stay safe during a survey?

    You are responsible for your own health and safety; Plantlife do not accept any liability or responsibility for the wellbeing of surveyors. Similarly, they do not accept any liability or responsibility for damage to, or loss of, personal property.

    We always recommend visiting sites and undertaking surveys with someone else and taking the following precautions:

    – Check the forecast and make appropriate arrangements. If the weather changes you may need to rethink your plans.
    – Take care on uneven or slippery ground and keep to footpaths where necessary.
    – Take a mobile phone and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
    –  Most fungi are non-toxic; even toxic ones are safe to hold. However, always wash your hands after handling fungi.

  • What are my access rights?

    England and Wales

    Grassland fungi can be found across a variety of different sites, many of which are publicly accessible, such as playing fields, parks or cemeteries. Where there is no open access, keep to public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). If you plan to carry out a survey on private land, please make sure you obtain the landowner’s permission to access the site.

    Scotland

    Make sure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when carrying out this activity.

  • What if I don’t have a smart phone/tablet?

    Where possible, we would highly recommend using the Survey123 app to complete the survey. It is much more convenient to use, especially when filling in the survey outdoors. The Survey123 app allows you to view and/or edit surveys you’ve already submitted, submit surveys while offline, and save answers to avoid re-entering the same information.
    However, if using the app is not feasible, you can alternatively follow this link and then select ‘Open in browser’ to launch the survey in a web browser on your computer. If you choose this option, we recommend looking over the survey form first to see what information you will need to record when carrying out your survey.

  • What if there is no mobile data signal?

    You can still access and fill out the survey without mobile data but you must download the Survey123 app in order to do this.
    When connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, download the Survey123 app, as well as the Waxcap Watch survey. You can then begin capturing survey information without a data connection. Upon completing
    the survey, you will be given the option to ‘Save in Outbox’, please select this option (see below). In doing so, all your survey results will be stored locally on your device.

    When you are able to reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will need to submit your survey that has been saved in your Outbox. To do this, navigate to the survey summary page where you will see an ‘Outbox’
    folder. By clicking on this folder, you will be able to see the survey you filled out and can submit it by clicking ‘Send’ in the bottom right corner of the screen

More events

Free Online Event: What’s Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Free Online Event: What's Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Tue, 15 Sep 2026
19:00
Online | free

Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch survey.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session
A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

Wed, 9 Sep 2026
15:00 – 16:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session
A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

Tue, 8 Sep 2026
12:00 – 13:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Past events

UK National Meadows Day
A hay meadow in Pembrokeshire with a blue sky

UK National Meadows Day

Sat, 1 Jul 2023

Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day
Free – Booking Required

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary
A small twinflower plant growing on a lush green woodland floor
Virtual

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary

Thu, 31 Aug 2023
11:00 – 12:00
Online | free

Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.

Waxcap Watch: Grassland ID Training and Survey Day, Cairngorms, Scotland

Join Plantlife and Nev Kilkenny, a mycological expert, for a day out to learn about Waxcap grassland species, help us survey some new sites, and practice using the new version of the Plantlife Waxcap App.

A red coloured waxcap mushroom among grass
Come and join us to learn about beautiful, colourful and sometimes rare grassland fungi in the Cairngorms. Nev is a very experienced mycologist and he will be leading the session, teaching how to recognise these fungi on what will hopefully be a varied and rich CHEGD (waxcap grassland) site.
Full location information will be announced closer to the event time, however it is expected to be near Nethy Bridge.
We will use the opportunity to learn how to use the new and improved version of the Waxcap Watch survey app. This app allows anyone to go out and survey a site for rare grassland fungi, and then feedback the data to us and relevant fungi recording groups. Hopefully you’ll feel confident enough to do some of your own surveys after this session.
The sites we’re surveying have not been fully surveyed before. We wanted to use the opportunity to engage with new landowners at sites we’ve noted as high potential, so you’ll be helping us to find new populations on the day, and we’re not exactly sure what we’ll see.
Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on site.
Refreshments: Volunteers are asked to bring a packed lunch and water on the day.

What You Need to Know

Waxcap Watch FAQs

  • What happens with the results from my survey?

    By taking a part in our survey you will help us to:

    • Discover previously unknown waxcap grassland sites across the UK
    • Get an indication of habitat condition at each site to aid more informed conversations with landowners and land managers
    • Make the case to policy makers for better protection for waxcaps
    • In Wales, we will look to share new findings with Natural Resources Wales, Fungus groups and other experts to investigate further
    • In Scotland, results from the survey will inform conversations with landowners on how best to restore and protect local waxcap grasslands in key project areas such as the Cairngorms National Park

    Much of this app is based on the work by Gareth Griffith, John Bratton and Gary Easton. Original publication: Griffith, G.W., Bratton, J.H. & Easton, G. (2004) Charismatic megafungi; the conservation of waxcap grasslands. British Wildlife. October 2004, pp 31-43.

  • How do I stay safe during a survey?

    You are responsible for your own health and safety; Plantlife do not accept any liability or responsibility for the wellbeing of surveyors. Similarly, they do not accept any liability or responsibility for damage to, or loss of, personal property.

    We always recommend visiting sites and undertaking surveys with someone else and taking the following precautions:

    – Check the forecast and make appropriate arrangements. If the weather changes you may need to rethink your plans.
    – Take care on uneven or slippery ground and keep to footpaths where necessary.
    – Take a mobile phone and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
    –  Most fungi are non-toxic; even toxic ones are safe to hold. However, always wash your hands after handling fungi.

  • What are my access rights?

    England and Wales

    Grassland fungi can be found across a variety of different sites, many of which are publicly accessible, such as playing fields, parks or cemeteries. Where there is no open access, keep to public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). If you plan to carry out a survey on private land, please make sure you obtain the landowner’s permission to access the site.

    Scotland

    Make sure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when carrying out this activity.

  • What if I don’t have a smart phone/tablet?

    Where possible, we would highly recommend using the Survey123 app to complete the survey. It is much more convenient to use, especially when filling in the survey outdoors. The Survey123 app allows you to view and/or edit surveys you’ve already submitted, submit surveys while offline, and save answers to avoid re-entering the same information.
    However, if using the app is not feasible, you can alternatively follow this link and then select ‘Open in browser’ to launch the survey in a web browser on your computer. If you choose this option, we recommend looking over the survey form first to see what information you will need to record when carrying out your survey.

  • What if there is no mobile data signal?

    You can still access and fill out the survey without mobile data but you must download the Survey123 app in order to do this.
    When connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, download the Survey123 app, as well as the Waxcap Watch survey. You can then begin capturing survey information without a data connection. Upon completing
    the survey, you will be given the option to ‘Save in Outbox’, please select this option (see below). In doing so, all your survey results will be stored locally on your device.

    When you are able to reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will need to submit your survey that has been saved in your Outbox. To do this, navigate to the survey summary page where you will see an ‘Outbox’
    folder. By clicking on this folder, you will be able to see the survey you filled out and can submit it by clicking ‘Send’ in the bottom right corner of the screen

More events

Free Online Event: What’s Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Free Online Event: What's Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Tue, 15 Sep 2026
19:00
Online | free

Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch survey.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session
A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

Wed, 9 Sep 2026
15:00 – 16:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session
A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

Tue, 8 Sep 2026
12:00 – 13:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Past events

UK National Meadows Day
A hay meadow in Pembrokeshire with a blue sky

UK National Meadows Day

Sat, 1 Jul 2023

Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day
Free – Booking Required

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary
A small twinflower plant growing on a lush green woodland floor
Virtual

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary

Thu, 31 Aug 2023
11:00 – 12:00
Online | free

Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.

Bare Ground Creation for Botanical Species Recovery

We’ll cover bare ground creation methods for species recovery, on calcareous grassland sites, as used for Pasqueflower and Purple Milk Vetch.

two purple flowers

Join our Botanical Specialist, Dr Elizabeth Cooke and our Nature Reserves Manager Dr Andrew Kearsey as they outline species recovery work we have delivered over the last 3 years.

We’ll be looking into the work we have undertaken to help Pasqueflower and Purple Milk Vetch, across the Chilterns, Cotswolds, Yorkshire Wolds and at Brockadale Nature reserve. We’ll look at the methods and how they can be adapted for other species.

The session will cover:

  • Rationale and theory behind species recovery
  • Practical methods of creating bare ground
  • Practical demonstration (TBD)
  • Assessment of existing species translocation work at Brockadale
  • Discussion of future species recovery work and where bare ground creation is appropriate.

Please bring your own drinks/snacks and lunch, there are no facilities on the reserve.

This event is organised in partnership with the Countryside Management Association (CMA).

Tickets are free to Countryside Management Association members, and £44.04 for non-members.

More events

Free Online Event: What’s Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Free Online Event: What's Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Tue, 15 Sep 2026
19:00
Online | free

Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch survey.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session
A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

Wed, 9 Sep 2026
15:00 – 16:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session
A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

Tue, 8 Sep 2026
12:00 – 13:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Past events

UK National Meadows Day
A hay meadow in Pembrokeshire with a blue sky

UK National Meadows Day

Sat, 1 Jul 2023

Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day
Free – Booking Required

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary
A small twinflower plant growing on a lush green woodland floor
Virtual

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary

Thu, 31 Aug 2023
11:00 – 12:00
Online | free

Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.

Waxcap Watch: Getting Ready to Volunteer, Cornwall

This event has now sold out.

A bright orange waxcap mushroom on green grass with a blue sky

Every year hundreds of volunteers take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch, a citizen science programme that helps us to find waxcaps and other grassland fungi which are indicators of rare, species-rich grassland.

Knowing where waxcaps and other grassland fungi are thriving helps us pinpoint where fragments of ancient meadows survive, so we can protect them for the future.

This outdoor workshop will give you the confidence to get out there and take part in Waxcap Watch. It will cover:

  • How to take part in the survey
  • Where to go looking for waxcaps and other grassland fungi
  • How to recognise some of the growth forms of grassland fungi and their identifying features

Under the gentle guidance of Plantlife experts, you and other volunteers will develop skills and confidence during this interactive day of activities.

Sign up for this free 1 day outdoor workshop if you want to learn more about grassland fungi and are committed to taking part in Waxcap Watch 2025.

More about Greena Moor

An amazing 15 species of waxcap were discovered in 1 visit in 2024, including Citrine waxcap, Earthy waxcap, Goblet waxcap and Honey waxcap.

  • No toilets or refreshments available
  • Uneven ground.
  • Exposed and windy so warm clothing essential.
  • Very limited parking on site so car sharing may be required from a meeting point close to Greena Moor. Details will be provided in pre-course information.

Find out more about Greena Moor here. 

What You Need to Know

Waxcap Watch FAQs

  • What happens with the results from my survey?

    By taking a part in our survey you will help us to:

    • Discover previously unknown waxcap grassland sites across the UK
    • Get an indication of habitat condition at each site to aid more informed conversations with landowners and land managers
    • Make the case to policy makers for better protection for waxcaps
    • In Wales, we will look to share new findings with Natural Resources Wales, Fungus groups and other experts to investigate further
    • In Scotland, results from the survey will inform conversations with landowners on how best to restore and protect local waxcap grasslands in key project areas such as the Cairngorms National Park

    Much of this app is based on the work by Gareth Griffith, John Bratton and Gary Easton. Original publication: Griffith, G.W., Bratton, J.H. & Easton, G. (2004) Charismatic megafungi; the conservation of waxcap grasslands. British Wildlife. October 2004, pp 31-43.

  • How do I stay safe during a survey?

    You are responsible for your own health and safety; Plantlife do not accept any liability or responsibility for the wellbeing of surveyors. Similarly, they do not accept any liability or responsibility for damage to, or loss of, personal property.

    We always recommend visiting sites and undertaking surveys with someone else and taking the following precautions:

    – Check the forecast and make appropriate arrangements. If the weather changes you may need to rethink your plans.
    – Take care on uneven or slippery ground and keep to footpaths where necessary.
    – Take a mobile phone and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
    –  Most fungi are non-toxic; even toxic ones are safe to hold. However, always wash your hands after handling fungi.

  • What are my access rights?

    England and Wales

    Grassland fungi can be found across a variety of different sites, many of which are publicly accessible, such as playing fields, parks or cemeteries. Where there is no open access, keep to public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). If you plan to carry out a survey on private land, please make sure you obtain the landowner’s permission to access the site.

    Scotland

    Make sure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when carrying out this activity.

  • What if I don’t have a smart phone/tablet?

    Where possible, we would highly recommend using the Survey123 app to complete the survey. It is much more convenient to use, especially when filling in the survey outdoors. The Survey123 app allows you to view and/or edit surveys you’ve already submitted, submit surveys while offline, and save answers to avoid re-entering the same information.
    However, if using the app is not feasible, you can alternatively follow this link and then select ‘Open in browser’ to launch the survey in a web browser on your computer. If you choose this option, we recommend looking over the survey form first to see what information you will need to record when carrying out your survey.

  • What if there is no mobile data signal?

    You can still access and fill out the survey without mobile data but you must download the Survey123 app in order to do this.
    When connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, download the Survey123 app, as well as the Waxcap Watch survey. You can then begin capturing survey information without a data connection. Upon completing
    the survey, you will be given the option to ‘Save in Outbox’, please select this option (see below). In doing so, all your survey results will be stored locally on your device.

    When you are able to reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will need to submit your survey that has been saved in your Outbox. To do this, navigate to the survey summary page where you will see an ‘Outbox’
    folder. By clicking on this folder, you will be able to see the survey you filled out and can submit it by clicking ‘Send’ in the bottom right corner of the screen

More events

Free Online Event: What’s Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Free Online Event: What's Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Tue, 15 Sep 2026
19:00
Online | free

Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch survey.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session
A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

Wed, 9 Sep 2026
15:00 – 16:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session
A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

Tue, 8 Sep 2026
12:00 – 13:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Past events

UK National Meadows Day
A hay meadow in Pembrokeshire with a blue sky

UK National Meadows Day

Sat, 1 Jul 2023

Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day
Free – Booking Required

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary
A small twinflower plant growing on a lush green woodland floor
Virtual

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary

Thu, 31 Aug 2023
11:00 – 12:00
Online | free

Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.

Waxcap Watch: Getting Ready to Volunteer, Colne

This event has now sold out.

Pink waxcap fungi growing in short green lawn

Every year hundreds of volunteers take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch, a citizen science programme that helps us to find waxcaps and other grassland fungi which are indicators of rare, species-rich grassland.

Knowing where waxcaps and other grassland fungi are thriving helps us pinpoint where fragments of ancient meadows survive, so we can protect them for the future.

This outdoor workshop will give you the confidence to get out there and take part in Waxcap Watch. It will cover:

  • How to take part in the survey
  • Where to go looking for waxcaps and other grassland fungi
  • How to recognise some of the growth forms of grassland fungi and their identifying features

Under the gentle guidance of Plantlife experts, you and other volunteers will develop skills and confidence during this interactive day of activities.

Sign up for this free 1 day outdoor workshop if you want to learn more about grassland fungi and are committed to taking part in Waxcap Watch 2025.

More about Wycoller Country Park

A good variety of waxcaps have been found on this lovely site during surveys undertaken in 2023 and 2024. Wycoller is one of the sites in Lancashire being considered for designation as a county wildlife site for its waxcaps.

  • No toilet facilities, food or water on site but we will walk back to Pepper Hill (Country Park Warden’s office) at lunchtime where there are toilets and water.
  • No mobile signal, some wifi at Pepper Hill so the Waxcap Watch App will need to be downloaded in advance.
  • Uneven ground and 20 min walk up hill to the site where the ground is sloping and exposed.

Find out more Wycoller Country Park – Country Park/Nature Reserve in Colne, Trawden – Visit Pendle

What You Need to Know

Waxcap Watch FAQs

  • What happens with the results from my survey?

    By taking a part in our survey you will help us to:

    • Discover previously unknown waxcap grassland sites across the UK
    • Get an indication of habitat condition at each site to aid more informed conversations with landowners and land managers
    • Make the case to policy makers for better protection for waxcaps
    • In Wales, we will look to share new findings with Natural Resources Wales, Fungus groups and other experts to investigate further
    • In Scotland, results from the survey will inform conversations with landowners on how best to restore and protect local waxcap grasslands in key project areas such as the Cairngorms National Park

    Much of this app is based on the work by Gareth Griffith, John Bratton and Gary Easton. Original publication: Griffith, G.W., Bratton, J.H. & Easton, G. (2004) Charismatic megafungi; the conservation of waxcap grasslands. British Wildlife. October 2004, pp 31-43.

  • How do I stay safe during a survey?

    You are responsible for your own health and safety; Plantlife do not accept any liability or responsibility for the wellbeing of surveyors. Similarly, they do not accept any liability or responsibility for damage to, or loss of, personal property.

    We always recommend visiting sites and undertaking surveys with someone else and taking the following precautions:

    – Check the forecast and make appropriate arrangements. If the weather changes you may need to rethink your plans.
    – Take care on uneven or slippery ground and keep to footpaths where necessary.
    – Take a mobile phone and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
    –  Most fungi are non-toxic; even toxic ones are safe to hold. However, always wash your hands after handling fungi.

  • What are my access rights?

    England and Wales

    Grassland fungi can be found across a variety of different sites, many of which are publicly accessible, such as playing fields, parks or cemeteries. Where there is no open access, keep to public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). If you plan to carry out a survey on private land, please make sure you obtain the landowner’s permission to access the site.

    Scotland

    Make sure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when carrying out this activity.

  • What if I don’t have a smart phone/tablet?

    Where possible, we would highly recommend using the Survey123 app to complete the survey. It is much more convenient to use, especially when filling in the survey outdoors. The Survey123 app allows you to view and/or edit surveys you’ve already submitted, submit surveys while offline, and save answers to avoid re-entering the same information.
    However, if using the app is not feasible, you can alternatively follow this link and then select ‘Open in browser’ to launch the survey in a web browser on your computer. If you choose this option, we recommend looking over the survey form first to see what information you will need to record when carrying out your survey.

  • What if there is no mobile data signal?

    You can still access and fill out the survey without mobile data but you must download the Survey123 app in order to do this.
    When connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, download the Survey123 app, as well as the Waxcap Watch survey. You can then begin capturing survey information without a data connection. Upon completing
    the survey, you will be given the option to ‘Save in Outbox’, please select this option (see below). In doing so, all your survey results will be stored locally on your device.

    When you are able to reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will need to submit your survey that has been saved in your Outbox. To do this, navigate to the survey summary page where you will see an ‘Outbox’
    folder. By clicking on this folder, you will be able to see the survey you filled out and can submit it by clicking ‘Send’ in the bottom right corner of the screen

More events

Free Online Event: What’s Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Free Online Event: What's Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Tue, 15 Sep 2026
19:00
Online | free

Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch survey.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session
A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

Wed, 9 Sep 2026
15:00 – 16:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session
A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

Tue, 8 Sep 2026
12:00 – 13:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Past events

UK National Meadows Day
A hay meadow in Pembrokeshire with a blue sky

UK National Meadows Day

Sat, 1 Jul 2023

Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day
Free – Booking Required

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary
A small twinflower plant growing on a lush green woodland floor
Virtual

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary

Thu, 31 Aug 2023
11:00 – 12:00
Online | free

Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.

Waxcap Watch: Getting Ready to Volunteer, Derbys

This event has now sold out.

Looking out across the valley with Meadow Saxifrage in the foreground

Every year hundreds of volunteers take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch, a citizen science programme that helps us to find waxcaps and other grassland fungi which are indicators of rare, species-rich grassland.

Knowing where waxcaps and other grassland fungi are thriving helps us pinpoint where fragments of ancient meadows survive, so we can protect them for the future.

This outdoor workshop will give you the confidence to get out there and take part in Waxcap Watch. It will cover:

  • How to take part in the survey
  • Where to go looking for waxcaps and other grassland fungi
  • How to recognise some of the growth forms of grassland fungi and their identifying features

Under the gentle guidance of Plantlife experts, you and other volunteers will develop skills and confidence during this interactive day of activities.

Sign up for this free 1 day outdoor workshop if you want to learn more about grassland fungi and are committed to taking part in Waxcap Watch 2025.

More about Deep Dale

Set in a beautiful steeply sloping valley, Plantlife’s Deep Dale nature reserve is has a rich cultural history. The reserve is home to a wide range of grassland fungi and plant species, from bright Crimson waxcaps to Meadow corals.

  • Toilets available at car park.
  • No food/water available on site.
  • Uneven ground.
  • There is a charge for parking.

Find out more about Deep Dale here. 

What You Need to Know

Waxcap Watch FAQs

  • What happens with the results from my survey?

    By taking a part in our survey you will help us to:

    • Discover previously unknown waxcap grassland sites across the UK
    • Get an indication of habitat condition at each site to aid more informed conversations with landowners and land managers
    • Make the case to policy makers for better protection for waxcaps
    • In Wales, we will look to share new findings with Natural Resources Wales, Fungus groups and other experts to investigate further
    • In Scotland, results from the survey will inform conversations with landowners on how best to restore and protect local waxcap grasslands in key project areas such as the Cairngorms National Park

    Much of this app is based on the work by Gareth Griffith, John Bratton and Gary Easton. Original publication: Griffith, G.W., Bratton, J.H. & Easton, G. (2004) Charismatic megafungi; the conservation of waxcap grasslands. British Wildlife. October 2004, pp 31-43.

  • How do I stay safe during a survey?

    You are responsible for your own health and safety; Plantlife do not accept any liability or responsibility for the wellbeing of surveyors. Similarly, they do not accept any liability or responsibility for damage to, or loss of, personal property.

    We always recommend visiting sites and undertaking surveys with someone else and taking the following precautions:

    – Check the forecast and make appropriate arrangements. If the weather changes you may need to rethink your plans.
    – Take care on uneven or slippery ground and keep to footpaths where necessary.
    – Take a mobile phone and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
    –  Most fungi are non-toxic; even toxic ones are safe to hold. However, always wash your hands after handling fungi.

  • What are my access rights?

    England and Wales

    Grassland fungi can be found across a variety of different sites, many of which are publicly accessible, such as playing fields, parks or cemeteries. Where there is no open access, keep to public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). If you plan to carry out a survey on private land, please make sure you obtain the landowner’s permission to access the site.

    Scotland

    Make sure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when carrying out this activity.

  • What if I don’t have a smart phone/tablet?

    Where possible, we would highly recommend using the Survey123 app to complete the survey. It is much more convenient to use, especially when filling in the survey outdoors. The Survey123 app allows you to view and/or edit surveys you’ve already submitted, submit surveys while offline, and save answers to avoid re-entering the same information.
    However, if using the app is not feasible, you can alternatively follow this link and then select ‘Open in browser’ to launch the survey in a web browser on your computer. If you choose this option, we recommend looking over the survey form first to see what information you will need to record when carrying out your survey.

  • What if there is no mobile data signal?

    You can still access and fill out the survey without mobile data but you must download the Survey123 app in order to do this.
    When connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, download the Survey123 app, as well as the Waxcap Watch survey. You can then begin capturing survey information without a data connection. Upon completing
    the survey, you will be given the option to ‘Save in Outbox’, please select this option (see below). In doing so, all your survey results will be stored locally on your device.

    When you are able to reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will need to submit your survey that has been saved in your Outbox. To do this, navigate to the survey summary page where you will see an ‘Outbox’
    folder. By clicking on this folder, you will be able to see the survey you filled out and can submit it by clicking ‘Send’ in the bottom right corner of the screen

More events

Free Online Event: What’s Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Free Online Event: What's Waxcap Watch and How to Take Part

Tue, 15 Sep 2026
19:00
Online | free

Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch survey.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session
A person in Planlife uniform is kneeling on grass while a group of people stand around looking and listening

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Afternoon Session

Wed, 9 Sep 2026
15:00 – 16:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session
A group of people stood in a semi circle in a field watching and listening to a man in a blue tshirt. The man is holding a mushroom.

Free Online Talk: How to Run Waxcap Watch Training – Lunch Session

Tue, 8 Sep 2026
12:00 – 13:00
Online | free

This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife's Waxcap Watch in 2026.

Past events

UK National Meadows Day
A hay meadow in Pembrokeshire with a blue sky

UK National Meadows Day

Sat, 1 Jul 2023

Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day
Free – Booking Required

Cairngorms Mountain top ID Training Day

Sat, 19 Aug 2023

Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary
A small twinflower plant growing on a lush green woodland floor
Virtual

Live from the Cairngorms: 3rd Year Project Anniversary

Thu, 31 Aug 2023
11:00 – 12:00
Online | free

Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.