When we think of woodland walks, we often focus on towering trees and rustling leaves but beneath our feet, clinging to trees, and even floating in water, a hidden world thrives. Fungi, nature’s quiet yet extraordinary storytellers.

The UK is home to a dazzling variety of fungi species, each with its own unique charm. The Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), with its iconic red cap and white spots, looks like something from a fairy tale. The Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus), delicate and ghostly, dissolves into inky black liquid as it ages. Deep within ancient woodlands, Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) clings to tree trunks, its vibrant orange shelves glowing like a secret flame. And in damp meadows, the delicate Waxcaps (Hygrocybe spp.) dot the grass like tiny, colourful gems.

Photo: @toby.and.roo

The beauty of fungi is in their elusiveness. They appear when conditions are just right hidden beneath fallen leaves, emerging from cracks in old logs, hills or nestled in the crooks of ancient trees. Spotting them requires slowing down, looking closely, and appreciating the small wonders that often go unnoticed.

Photo: @ribblevalleywhippets

At the heart of our October Photo Challenge is a shared love for exploration, observation, and the joy of noticing the little things. What began as a simple idea has blossomed into a vibrant, supportive community brought together by a passion for photography and the marvels of mushrooms. Every year, we are overwhelmed by the creativity, enthusiasm, and generosity of those who take part, transforming this challenge into something truly special.  

Through the lens, fungi reveal their hidden wonders, delicate gills, intricate textures, and the quiet magic of their place in nature. This annual challenge is more than just a celebration of photography; it’s a testament to how deeply connected we are to the natural world and to each other. It is a partnership, curated by us, but truly grown by you. And we can’t wait to continue this journey together, year after year.

Photo: @highlandtails

With our 2024 challenge coming to an end, we celebrate by creating a pocket sized zine to stand as a testament to you and mushy finds. Plus, to give back to charities doing good things to protect our environments with all profits from the sale of this Ffwng 2 donated directly to Trash Free Trails - A non-profit organisation dedicated to removing single-use pollution from recreational trails. Please head over to their website a support their purposeful cause.

The most challenging part of compiling the zine is picking just 25 photographs to go to print, trust us this is not easy and takes us a long time of consideration. As we continue with the second edition this become even hard with the challenge welcoming many more amateur and professional photographers taking part and tagging us in your discoveries. We sincerely hope you know how much it means to us to see your photos and the thoughtful messages we receive. 

Drum Roll Please

If picking just 25 photos from the hundreds of entries wasn't hard enough, finalising just 1 for the coveted Ffwng front cover, well you get it. After many hours, days and months we found ourselves being drawn back to one photo, submitted by the very talented Emma Steele and we hope you agree that the image captures the spectacle of these other worldly magical species. 

Photo: @machinecreatve

Join us in congratulating Emma and follow her instagram to see more of her stunning photography.

Once again we thank you to each and everyone of you for taking part and hope you will join us once again for another Ffwng Photo Challenge in October 2025. 

To pick up your copy of Ffwng 2 visit our shop. We also have a small amount of the first edition of Ffwng available should you wish to complete your fungus library.