The first Foray of Autumn took place around the Smitham Chimney in East Harptree Woods. This is the last remaining chimney from the extensive Victorian lead workings on Mendip. On a sunny day this is a very picturesque site. Although a little spoilt by the extensive forestry operations, we managed a good foray through the different woodlands near the chimney. Among the best parts was an extensive area of Scots Pine where some remarkable dark brown puffballs were found. After careful analysis of their spores these were identified as Lycoperdon umbrinum. There were also many fruiting bodies of Russula sardonia, which may be difficult to identify in the field, but once at home treatment with ammonia revealed the diagnostic bright red reaction on the stipe. At the end of the afternoon Roy appeared from the woods near the car park with a strange �woolly� sample, which he had found growing from the end of a trunk of wood. This was later identified by Dave Shorten as Postia ptygogaster.