III Mycological Days in the Sierra de Segura

"Every day you have the opportunity to learn and do something new"
 
Natural Park Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and the Villas: The paradise of the mushrooms of the South
 
The park is located in the province of Jaén, with an extension of 214,000 hectares that are divided into a mountainous landscape and rugged mountains, with lush valleys and forests of pines. It is the largest protected area in Spain and the second in Andalusia, so all its scenic beauty and biological richness are added to the cultural heritage that exists in the mountains.
 
The humid climate and the abrupt relief make possible the life of an enormous variety of species, adapted to the different altitudes, orientation of the hillsides, humidity degrees, soil classes, etc. For mushroom enthusiasts, the Sierras de Cazorla Natural Park, Segura and Las Villas are a true paradise, since they have a great variety of species in abundance. Among the most common are the níscalos, known by locals as guíscanos. You can also collect thistle thistle, the cagarria, the poplar mushroom, the bearded, the bold or the tocona mushroom, among others.
 
What is a mushroom?
 
If we put a simile, for example a fruit tree, basically the mushroom would equal the fruit of the tree and the fungus to the tree itself. But in the case of mushrooms, they usually appear on the surface of the earth while the fungus grows buried.
 
Each mycological species will need special conditions. When the climatic conditions are right, the fungus goes on to develop the mushrooms, which are the reproductive organ. Thus, once the mushroom specimen is developed, it will begin to generate spores that will guarantee the development of new fungi and mushrooms. The most suitable climatic conditions for its development are autumn and spring where the temperature is between 10 and 26 degrees.
 
Fungi play an important role in nature, even if they are unknown or not edible. They are installed on dead organic matter, accelerating its decomposition and recycling it into fundamental substrates for the good health of the surrounding flora.

Mushrooms, delights from the forest to the table
 
In addition to the ecological importance, mushrooms also have high value in gastronomy. Of the thousands of species that are edible only a few dozen that have pleasant taste. Its texture and mild flavor makes it a perfect ingredient to combine with meat, pasta and some sauces can also be savored alone.
 
From a nutritional point of view mushrooms contain a large amount of high biological value protein, mineral salts and vitamins. They stimulate brain and nervous activity, also indicated in case of anemia. Even so, it must be consumed in moderation.
 
 
About the Day
 
If you want to learn more about mushrooms, take part in the Mycological Days of the Sierra de Segura, organized by the El Tranco Leisure Center. They are aimed at all types of audiences, especially those who are starting out in the world of gathering the fruit of the fungus and the people who are starting out in the mycological kitchen.

The Mycological Days of the Sierra de Segura will consist of: Mycological hiking - Guided tour by expert mycologists to learn about sustainable harvesting - Workshop on the identification of species - Classification of the species collected during the route and their exhibition -, Cooking Workshop mycological for the participants in the Conference, given by Sonia Muñoz from El Tranco restaurant and to end a relaxing trip by solar boat.
Go ahead and take part in this journey in the beautiful spot of the Sierra de Segura!

Comfortable clothes
Water
Basket for collection
Knife or knife