Bird’s Nest Fungus

The forecast bad weather didn't arrive and so the ten volunteers who turned up enjoyed themselves in the sunshine with a bonfire on the heathland.

Trevor and his team were back today and managed to get the first telegraph poles installed which are going to support the bridge to the new hide.

Most excitingly, fresh Bird's Nest Fungus was found on the top of a mink raft on Risedale Beck. We found this fungus earlier in the year but at that time the spores had gone and there were just empty cups left.

Today, as you can see, there are some which have their membrane intact (in the middle of the picture), one which is about to rupture (it has a dimple in the middle), and the rest with the spores or 'eggs' waiting to be splashed out by the rain. They are about 5 mm across at the largest.