An Enchanted Place

For day 89 of 365 Days Wild I hunted for fungi in the little woodland area by the pond and along the Millennium Walk beside the meadow. I’ve tried to identify the ones that I spotted but there are over 15,000 species of fungi in the UK, and I’ve not had much experience at identifying them, so I may have got them wrong.

I was most fascinated by a little cluster of tiny toadstools that I spotted growing in amongst the leaf litter on the Millenium Walk. They were underneath some brambles and not easy to get pictures of! I had several scratches and a thorn in my hand by the time I was done, but I did manage to snap a few different shots. I think they might be Collared Parachute toadstools (Marasmius rotula), but if anyone knows otherwise, please do let me know in the comment section below.

I also spotted this crust fungus, growing over some dead wood. It is possibly Cinnamon Porecrust (Phellinus ferreus), but crusts are one of the trickiest types of fungi to identify. From what I’ve read, a precise identification generally requires a microscope.

There was also this single small toadstool – possibly a Meadow Waxcap (Hygrocybe pratensis) – growing in the little woodland down near the dyke.

Parasol toadstools (Macrolepiota procera) are always a common feature around the little woodland during the autumn months. They always look very phallic when they first appear, before their parasol opens.

Hopefully, I’ll be photographing the Parasol Mushroom again once it’s open – unless it’s eaten or destroyed before I return.

That’s all for today. See you again tomorrow!