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A local mycologist who discovered the first record of a rare mushroom species in the British Isles while driving around Jersey with her toddler has won a national award.
Charlotte Shenkin won the National Biodiversity Network Newcomer Award 2024 in recognition of her contributions to biological science.
She attended the awards and conference in Liverpool last Thursday, along with 175 other people working in Biology and Conservation from across the British Isles.
Pictured: The National Biodiversity Network is the UK’s largest partnership for nature, and has been championing the sharing of wildlife data since 2000.
Charlotte said: "Being invited so that I could receive my award in front of so many impressive scientists, really made me feel extremely proud of what I have achieved in Mycology."
Since she started recording fungi in Jersey in March 2023, Charlotte has logged around 3,000 different records – 30 of which were "firsts" for Jersey and two of which are the first British records.
Last year, Charlotte discovered the first record of the Russula stenocystidiata species in the British Isles whilst driving back from Jersey Zoo with her toddler.
She said: "I’m irresistibly drawn to surveying and recording fungi, because it’s like there is an exciting treasure hunt on, 24/7, all year round!"
Charlotte has previously been professionally involved in reptile and amphibian conservation and biology teaching, but her interest in fungi was sparked two years ago while out and about with her children.
Pictured: Charlotte has previously worked as a zookeeper, lab technician, aquarist and science teacher.
"Having toddler twins meant I found myself in lots of new and different places like playparks, forest schools, the woods, sand dunes – and all the time my eyes were searching for interesting organisms," she explained.
"I started to notice fungi everywhere and soon found some absolutely beautiful and rarely seen mushrooms. A new special interest sparked into life very quickly!"
She added: "Receiving a National award and prizes, that’s not something I ever could have imagined happening two years ago when I first noticed some green mushrooms in the park!"
Charlotte also recently discovered a 0.5mm wide pink "spore shooting" fungus on sheep dung, which preliminary research suggests might be an entirely new species.
After microscopic analysis and consultation with German mycologist Björn Wergen, the fungus has been provisionally named "Ascobolus subhawaiiensis."
Further research, including DNA sequencing, is needed to confirm its classification.
Pictured: Charlotte attended the awards and conference in Liverpool last Thursday.
Charlotte, who runs a local Facebook group for mushroom enthusiasts called 'Jersey (CI) Mushroom Hunting', encourages anyone interested to get involved with biodiversity recording.
She said: “The more records people make the better our knowledge of fungi in Jersey and the better armed we are to try and protect species and environments.
"Every piece of information adds to a bigger picture that will help us conserve our beautiful island."
Islanders can help update the island's fungal database by contributing images and details about detected mushrooms to the Jersey Biodiversity Centre.
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Pictured top: Charlotte Shenkin at the award ceremony earlier this month. (NBN Trust)
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