Brett Westwood seeks out the magical mushroom, Fly Agaric.

With its red cap and white spots. Its story is entwined with Father Christmas, Alice in Wonderland and the founding of religion itself.

The mushroom's hallucinogenic properties and its appearance in fairy tales make it the most evocative of all British fungi.

Brett goes searching for a fly agaric into the woods with River Cottage forager John Wright and talks to pharmacologist Professor Richard Miller and Dr Patrick Harding author of The Christmas Book about its surprising importance in human culture.

With readings from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Claire Skinner.

Original Producer: Beth O'Dea

Archive Producer: Andrew Dawes for BBC Audio in Bristol

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2016. Show less