If you go down to the woods tonight, you’re sure of a big surprise!

If you go down to the woods tonight, you might see a ghost! Or rather, ghost mushrooms.

Omphalotus nidiformus is a bio-luminescent fungi which can be found growing on decomposing wood in pine forests of the South East. This native species has adapted to life in the plantations, but can also be found in native woodlands.

Ghost mushroom (Photo: Ockert le Roux)

ForestrySA has once again opened up Ghost Mushroom Lane near Glencoe, which last year attracted more than 18,500 visitors on self-guided explorations. Now, for the first time ever, ForestrySA is offering guided tours – and we’ve been pleased to join them to assist!

Tours are available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, and are regularly selling out – you can book in here.

The eerie mushrooms have been fascinating visitors from near and far during May, and the season extends until the end of June.

Personally, I have been especially enjoying chatting to locals who are appreciating a part of our region with new eyes. The glowing green photo above and others you may have seen in the media are taken using a long exposure technique; to the naked eye the glow is a more subtle white-ish colour – but nonetheless, glowing mushrooms in the night-time forest are a spectacular sight to see!

Ghost mushrooms feed on dead wood – an abundant resource in plantation forests (Photo: ForestrySA)

I have been particularly interested in fungi since I moved back to the South East four years ago and as a ’90s kid I have a soft spot for anything that is ‘glow-in-the-dark’, so this program is like a dream come true. Check out the ForestrySA website for more info, and I hope to see you out there!

(Photo: ForestrySA)