There’s not mushroom in here!

With the damp conditions, fungi are putting on a particularly good display all around the reserve. Our eagle eyed volunteers have been out in the reserve surveying fungi, and have found five new species this year.

Christine spotted and identified the fungus below, it was found just outside the gate leading onto the moor from the lake, as Hairy Earth Tongue. Earth Tongues are mostly late autumn fungi, usually appearing in October and lasting well into November (unless cut down by frosts) and grow on nutrient poor soils.

Brian spotted the fungus below in the leaf litter of the conifer plantation. After a bit of investigation, aided by Christine it has been identified as Velvet Bolete another new species for the reserve. This soft-fleshed bolete is far from common in Britain and mainly appears under various kinds of pine trees. Like all bolete-like species it has tubes, and pores, instead of gills under its cap.

With over 2440 species already identified on the reserve it amazes us that we continue to discover new species all the time. This in the main is down to the our volunteers so we would like to express our gratitude for their continued hard work and dedication.