When you think about the natural world in autumn, your mind might go straight to colourful leaves, dahlias and changing trees. But there’s another fascinating world emerging beneath our feet and this October, Autumn Colour at Hever Castle will shine a spotlight on it.
On 15th and 16th October, sisters Lorraine Caley and Jodie Bryan, known as the Caley Brothers, will join us at Hever for Fun with Fungi, sharing their passion for mushrooms and the fascinating role fungi play in the world around us.
Based in West Sussex, Lorraine and Jodie have turned their enthusiasm for mushroom growing into an award-winning passion. The sisters are fresh from their latest RHS Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, and will bring their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to Hever as part of this year’s Autumn Colour programme.
Fungi are so much more than the mushrooms we see above ground. They play a vital role in healthy ecosystems, helping to break down organic matter, recycle nutrients and support the plants and wildlife around them.
During their sessions at Hever, Lorraine and Jodie will explore the incredible diversity of fungi and explain why these often-overlooked organisms are so important to the wider ecosystem.
They’ll also share the story behind their own mushroom-growing journey, giving visitors an insight into how they grow fungi and what first sparked their fascination with this extraordinary part of the natural world.
Whether you’re a keen gardener, interested in growing your own mushrooms or simply curious about what’s happening beneath the woodland floor, there will be plenty to discover.
The Caley Brothers’ passion for fungi has already taken them to one of the biggest stages in the gardening world. Their latest Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is testament to their creative approach and their ability to make people stop and look at fungi in a completely different way.
Their visit to Hever comes at the perfect time of year. As the gardens change from summer into autumn, fungi become an increasingly visible part of the landscape, appearing in woodland, lawns and borders and playing their own quiet role in the seasonal cycle.
So, while you’re admiring the autumn colour above ground, take a moment to look a little closer at what’s happening underneath it.
Fun with Fungi with the Caley Brothers
Thursday 15th & Friday 16th October 2026
11.30am & 2pm
Outside the Hever Shop
Included with garden admission
Come along to meet Lorraine and Jodie, hear about their mushroom-growing journey and discover why fungi are such an important and surprisingly fascinating, part of our natural world.
Find out more about Autumn Colour here
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
