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Fly Agaric

Brett Westwood seeks out the story of the magical mushroom Fly Agaric, with its red cap and white spots. From 2016.

Brett Westwood seeks out the magical mushroom, Fly Agaric.

With its red cap and white spots. Its story is entwined with Father Christmas, Alice in Wonderland and the founding of religion itself.

The mushroom's hallucinogenic properties and its appearance in fairy tales make it the most evocative of all British fungi.

Brett goes searching for a fly agaric into the woods with River Cottage forager John Wright and talks to pharmacologist Professor Richard Miller and Dr Patrick Harding author of The Christmas Book about its surprising importance in human culture.

With readings from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Claire Skinner.

Original Producer: Beth O'Dea

Archive Producer: Andrew Dawes for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Audio in Bristol

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in November 2016.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 3 Jan 2022 03:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra

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Dr Patrick Harding

Dr Patrick Harding
Dr Patrick Harding taught ecology and evolution to undergraduates before teaching on and organising the science extramural programme for the University of Sheffield. Freelance for 20 years, he now gives talks; leads fungal forays and teaches for both Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

He has also organised many flower holidays abroad, most recently to Turkey. His books include four on fungi, two on wild flowers, one on trees and one on Christmas. He loves finding links between the arts and the sciences, hence his interest in herbal medicine, tree folklore and Christmas.

Professor Richard Miller

Professor Richard Miller
Richard Miller was born in London and obtained his PhD at Cambridge University before joining the faculty of the University of Chicago in 1976. In 2000, he moved to the Department of Pharmacology at Northwestern University in Chicago where he is the Alfred Newton Richards Professor.

He has spent over 40 years engaged in research on the brain and has published over 500 papers on pharmacology. He is particularly interested in how Β drugs affect synaptic communication between nerve cells in the brain. He is also interested in the history and philosophy of science and authored the book , which describes the history of the use mind altering substances.

John Wright

John Wright

is a professional forager who has written three books on foraging and one on home-brewing for the River Cottage. He describes himself asΒ one of those very lucky people who have managed to turn a hobby (chiefly fungus hunting) into a job.

Until recently John worked as a country cabinet maker but now spends his time foraging and encouraging others to forage through his writing, forays, talks and, occasionally, TV and radio appearances.

Picture: Louise Jolley Photography

Broadcasts

  • Tue 15 Nov 2016 11:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Mon 21 Nov 2016 21:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 27 Sep 2020 06:35
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Thu 30 Dec 2021 14:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 31 Dec 2021 02:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 2 Jan 2022 15:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 3 Jan 2022 03:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra

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