Waxcap Watch

• Step 1: Download the free Survey123 app on your smartphone or tablet via Google Play (Android) or Apple Store (iOS) 

• Step 2: Open this link on your smart device: https://arcg.is/PLT5X . Select ‘Open in the Survey123 field app’ and then ‘Continue without signing in’ 
• A message will pop up asking for access to your phone’s camera and storage – please click Yes/Allow and you’re ready to go. 

Alternatively, after you click the link above and select ‘Open in browser’, you can launch the survey in your web browser without having to download Survey123 app. 

After you submit your first survey, the next time you open the Survey123 app click on the WaxcApp icon (red waxcap with Plantlife logo) and then ‘Collect’ to fill out another survey. 

Visit a field, park, road verge, pasture, heathland, dune or cemetery; in fact, you can visit any grassy area which is open to the public, or for which you have the landowner’s explicit permission,  between September and late November when waxcaps look their best.

They can be found growing in:

• Permanent pastures and hay meadows
• Grassland on cliffs, coastal slopes and sand dunes
• Upland grassland and heath
• Urban grasslands including lawns, parks, cemeteries, church and chapel yards
• Roadside verges

The easiest way to search an area for waxcaps is to walk in a zig-zag pattern at a slow pace, as some of the mushrooms are only a few centimetres tall!

Use the app to complete a few questions about the place you are visiting and to record which colours of waxcaps and grassland fungi you can see.

There is no restriction on the number of surveys you do – the more the better as this will help build a picture of what can be found at your site throughout the fungus season. Different fungi will come and go as the months change. Some fungi are visible only for a few days or weeks at each time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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