An Enchanted Place

For day 131 of 365 Days Wild I decided to head out to the Nature Project site in search of toadstools. There are lots about at the moment – I’m seeing new ones pretty much every time I’m out and about. I generally photograph these, even if they don’t fit with the rest of the blog post that I have planned for that day. Because of this, on day 131, I also spent some time trying to identify those that I’ve spotted but not shared from other recent walks. I’ve discovered another website, Nature-First that is very useful for identification. I think that I’m going to be spending a lot of time there over the next month or so!

As always, my identifications are provisional and made with no certainty. If you recognise something, please do let me know. I never hunt for fungi to eat, only to photograph, so being precise is only for my own interest. If you do want to forage for wild mushrooms, make sure that you are positive in your I’d before you eat them.

This clump of toadstools was spotted around a tree stump in the little woodland. I’m thinking that they might be Sulphur Tufts (Hypholoma fasciculare) but there are several similar species so closer examination would be required in order to be certain.

Next, these little pleated toadstools were spotted in amongst the knapweed leaves around the young Whitebeam trees at the bottom of the meadow. I’m pretty sure it’s one of the Parasola family, though more than that is hard to say. It might be Parasola plicatilis or Parasola leiocephala. It seems that you require a microscope to tell them apart.

These brown toadstools are popping up all around the meadow at the moment. I think that they might be Silky Pinkgills (Entoloma seriseum).

Finally, I spotted a few little clumps of these little bonnet toadstools on the meadow path. I haven’t managed to narrow this one down to a species. Without far closer examination it could be any of the Mycenaceae family.

Most evenings I head outside at dusk to watch the sun set over the field behind our house. Most of the time these pictures are either discarded as boring, or shared only on my Instagram page (@hedgewitchymusings). This time of year tends to have the best sunsets, though, so you might be seeing a few more of them.

That’s all for today. Have you spotted any toadstool while out and about recently, or watched the sun set? I’d love to know.