‘I have an understanding housemate’: the student who makes videos of fungus on faeces
Alfred Drummond-Herdman’s extraordinary timelapses have been viewed by millions – and led him to identify new species Alfred Drummond-Herdman is possibly the only person in the UK who is sent animal faeces in the post out of goodwill. His bedroom in Edinburgh is full of the stuff: clothes have been removed from his wardrobe and cupboards, replaced with terrariums and plastic containers housing…
Alfred Drummond-Herdman, a 27-year-old trainee lawyer from Edinburgh, is capturing the growth of rare fungi found in animal feces on social media. His bedroom is filled with terrariums containing cowpats, grouse droppings, and rabbit pellets, which he collects and photographs every 30 seconds to create timelapses. This unique hobby has earned him millions of views and over 60,000 followers on Instagram.
Drummond-Herdman, a self-taught amateur taxonomist, discovered his fascination with coprophilous fungi while exploring the Ochil Hills on the outskirts of Stirling during the pandemic. He has identified two new species of fungi and continues to work with experts to study and identify British specimens. Through his timelapse videos, Drummond-Herdman aims to inspire a greater appreciation for nature conservation and the importance of taxonomy in biodiversity research.
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