2017 was an exciting year for fungi in Kent with many scarce and rare species being recorded including micorrhizal agarics, toothed fungi, and chanterelle species. Spring was dry and generally there were few common spring fungi around. 

On 7^th April, a group of enthusiasts (including several Club members) assembled at the Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum to be trained in identifying UK Cantharidae by Steph Skipp, ID Trainer for the Future (and Club member). An informative and fun day was had by all, with access to the museum collections and excellent guidance from Steph. Hopefully this means Kent will have even better records for this group in future as her students turn up on field meetings! Please check out their recording scheme.

Total monthly rainfall was 93.5 mm with a maximum daily rainfall  of  14.5 mm on 31st March. Recordable rain fell on 20 days during the month, and there were 22 days with 100% cloud cover.

The lake was full by March 4th, and the woodland ponds reached maximum water-level by the 11th. Permanent pastures were waterlogged at the end of the month. Maximum daytime temperature ranged from 13°C (11th and 26th March) to -1°C (1st March).

The Annual General Meeting of the Club was held on 18th March at Kent Wildlife Trust's HQ Tyland Barn. Aterwards, the attendees enjoyed the President's Address from Dick Vane-Wright on 'Mimicry - with some reference to British Insects' and presentations on the Shrill Carder Bee Recovery Project from Rosie Earwaker and the Wild Orchids of Kent by David Johnson

On 15th March, Kent Field Club was amongst the many organisations represented at Kent Wildlife Trust's 'Wake Up The Season' event marking the launch of this year's Wild About Gardens Awards scheme (http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/discover-learn/wild-about-gardens-awards). This occasion enables new and existing volunteers, who provide advice to gardeners and visit entrants, to meet each other, awards sponsors and other relevant organisations and to share knowledge and ideas. The event was very busy and this year's scheme is already shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.