Hidden Heroes:
Global Fungi Campaign
Fungi underpin life on earth. They recycle most of the decayed matter on this planet, sequester 36% of man-made carbon emissions each year, provide us with the active ingredients found in some of our most popular medicines and keep 80% of plant life in existence. Fungi provide a myriad of critical eco-services which we are not able to do without. Yet, they go unnoticed and unappreciated by so many. Fungi are all around us, unfolding underfoot and popping up in nooks and crannies. It is time we noticed these hidden heroes.
Join the Hidden Heroes Campaign
Discover, photograph and promote the fascinating fungi on your doorstep! All you need to do is:
- 1. Download the iNaturalist app and create an account. Click here for Apple. Click here for Android.
- 2. Join the “Hidden Heroes: Global Fungi Campaign” on the iNaturalist app. You can do this by selecting the Projects icon on the bottom right-hand side of the screen. Then select the Magnifying Glass icon on the top right-hand side of the screen and search for our campaign. Once on the campaign page, you will be given the option to join the campaign near the top of the screen.
- 3. Start taking photos. Use the back button (not the Leave button) on the top left-hand side of the screen to exit the campaign page. Then use the bottom menu bar to navigate the app. Select the Observe icon to start taking or uploading photos. Your fungi photos will automatically be added to our campaign.
- 4. Engage with the Hidden Heroes community. To return to the campaign page, you just need to select the Projects icon each time. Here you will be able to see all the photos in the campaign as well as our campaign stats.
Campaign guidance
- Taking Photos 📸
- Take and upload a few photos of your fungi
- Capture the fungi from multiple angles
- Never disturb or destroy the fungi
- Review your own photos by selecting the Me icon on the bottom menu bar
- Contributing to citizen science 🧬
- Share the names of the fungi if you know them
- If you are not sure of the name of your fungi, simply enter “Fungi Including Lichens” or “Slime Molds” as this will make sure your photos are tagged to our campaign
- Include location tagging on all your photos or add this separately when uploading your photos
- Respond to campaign members if they have helped you name your fungi. You can do this by directly selecting any Messaging icons which have appeared next to your photos
- If you are a fungi enthusiast, help name other campaign members’ fungi by navigating to our campaign page (via the Projects icon) and selecting and adding comments to their photos
- Growing our amazing community 🤝
- Share the campaign with friends, family and work colleagues
- Connect with fellow fungi enthusiasts
- Also visit the web-based version of iNaturalist as this provides you with more campaign options and engagement opportunities
Campaign assets
We have created some campaign assets for you to encourage more people to join the Hidden Heroes Campaign. These consist of social media post assets, as well as threatened species posters which can be printed out and put up in your place of work, student campus or community centre. The threatened species posters help focus people’s attention on those fungi which need the most protection.
Campaign Authors
Emma HowcroftEmma is the Global Sourcing Sustainability Director of a Fortune 500 company in the life sciences industry. Her day job consists of leading her company’s sustainability efforts with a focus on the supply chain. In a previous role, she led a FTSE 100 company's position on sustainable plastics and mobilised the company to eliminate single-use plastics from their operations. She is a big proponent of empowering people to lead change themselves and firmly believes that it is in everyone’s power to make a difference. She developed the site – www.greenandgood.org – to help people fight climate change, and protect and restore biodiversity on their doorstep.Emma has a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge and is passionate about helping procurement functions embed sustainability practices. She is an avid mycophile, spending much time capturing London’s mushrooms on camera. You can see her photos on the www.mycologicalphotographer.com site.
Harry GuestHarry is a software engineer based in the UK who enjoys solving problems and creating user-friendly tools that make life easier. He has a knack for exploring how technology can improve the way we live and work, and he’s especially interested in learning about artificial intelligence and its potential to shape the future.As a trustee of an LGBTQIA+ charity, Harry works to promote inclusivity, security, and support within the community. Whether planning a large-scale pride event or researching how to better serve marginalized groups, he is committed to making a positive impact.Outside of his work and advocacy, Harry is a creative at heart. He is an aspiring writer who loves crafting engaging stories, exploring new worlds through books, and brainstorming fresh ideas with his book club. When not writing, Harry can often be found behind a camera, capturing the beauty of the world around him, or in the kitchen experimenting with recipes that reflect his love of food and culture.Harry believes that small changes can lead to big differences. Whether mentoring others, working on personal projects, or simply enjoying time with friends, he finds joy in connecting with people and helping them thrive. He approaches each day with curiosity and optimism, always ready to learn something new or share a good story.