The scientists studying them might be in decline (see ‘Shroomers in peril), but fungi in the UK look set to have a safe future thanks to a protection strategy (press release). The news came to The Great Beyond courtesy of the BBC, the foremost source for UK fungus news, but has seen little coverage elsewhere so far.

The protection comes in the guise of a forum, set up by UK environmental groups. “Put simply, without fungi, the world would not exist as we know it. 90% of plants depend on fungi, and we depend on them for so much and yet know so little about their ecology,” says Jayne Manley, from Plantlife, who is leading the campaign.

Part of the programme will see the creation of the world’s largest fungi collection, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. And apparently fungi are much maligned: “should you ever need antibiotics or an organ transplant, the chances are you will have a fungus to thank for your recovery. We would like to see better appreciation of these extraordinary and life-giving organisms and their role in the health of our ecosystems, through education and awareness raising,” the campaign release notes.

So the public image of fungi is going to get a revamp, but it’s hard to see what that might involve besides endless puns on “fun” and “guy”. Oh, how we laughed.

Image of the fly agaric fungus: Wellcome library, London