Introduction

The British Mycological Society (BMS) was founded in 1896 and today has about 2000 members who are located all over the world. The constitutional objective of the Society is to promote mycology in all its aspects by publications, meetings and such other means as it shall deem appropriate. The Council of the BMS is the executive that implements on a day-to-day basis the activity of the Society that is decided by the members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting, usually held in early December of each year.

Field mycology and an awareness and appreciation for the natural world were at the heart of the business of the Society from its foundation and these concerns continue as one of the Society's major activities today. The origins of the BMS trace back to the mid-nineteenth century (Webster, 1997). The Woolhope Field Naturalists’ Club was based on the Hereford Museum, though members of the club dined at the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford. In 1867 the Curator of the museum, Dr H. G. Bull, encouraged the club to take a special interest in fungi. He invited them to join him in ‘a foray among the funguses’ and this became an annual event, traditionally held in Hereford during the first week of October. The Woolhope Club meetings became a focus for all with an interest in fungi and attracted mycologists both from Britain and abroad.