A pink waxcap on the plinth

A giant ‘pink waxcap' hat made by Dr. Gareth Griffith and Gary Easton of Aberystwyth University will be worn by Dr. Martha Crockatt, a research fellow at Cardiff University, when she takes her place on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth this Sunday morning (12 July).

Dr Crockatt will be using the hour to highlight the importance of fungi generally and grassland fungi such as waxcaps in particular.

Wales, with its large areas of grassland, more than most other European countries is a hotspot for these fungi. A consequence of this is that several sites in Wales have been notified as SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), most famously Llanishen Reservoir Embankment in Cardiff which was only notified following a judgement from the High Court in London.

According to Dr Gareth Griffith, who specialises in the ecology of grassland fungi at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University, the pink waxcap or ballerina is emblematic of the plight of the grassland fungi and as well as being one of the rarer species, it is probably the most beautiful example of this colourful but threatened group of fungi known as the waxcaps.

He said: "There aren't many organisms for which Wales can claim to be a biodiversity hotspot of international significance, so I hope that Martha will be able to increase public awareness of their significance."

Supporting Martha will be Professor Lynne Boddy from Cardiff University, a renowned fungal ecologist and President of the British Mycological Society.

She hopes that Martha's slot on the plinth will also draw attention to the great importance of fungi to our daily lives, and not just the negative aspects that people often think of first.  Without fungi, there would be not beer, wine, blue cheese and Camembert, let alone many life-saving drugs, most famously penicillin and statins.  Fungi are also the "garbage disposal agents" of the natural world, and without them leaves would not rot and life on land would grind to a halt.

Martha will be on the plinth for an hour from 3 until 4 a.m. on Sunday 12 July.
 
“If you happen not to be planning a late night out in central London you can watch her on the internet http://www.oneandother.co.uk/ or learn more via Martha's Facebook page: Fungus on the Fourth Plinth”, added Dr Griffith.