For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Saturday 24 October 2009

Fungi & Other Wild Foods Walk in New England Wood

Simon Rowledge, WSCC Countryside Ranger for the High Weald based at Buchan Park,
lead a fascinating and highly enjoyable walk through New England Wood today.
Some of the fungi that Simon identified are shown below.
The event was organised by Cuckfield Local.
Click Cuckfield Local here for further information.
A Waxcap species in the pasture with accompanying fresh cowpat.
Click on any picture to expand it.
Click on any picture to expand it.
Turkeytail bracket fungus, Trametes versicolor
A Bolete species using a mirror to view the pores (or gills on other fungi)
without damaging the fungus in any way.
A root Puffball species

Simon demonstrated how a spark can ignite the King Alfred's cake fungus to start a fire.
Fly Agaric, Amonita muscaria

A brittlegill fungus, Russula sp.
Birch polypore, Piptoporus betulinus
Amethyst Deceiver, Laccaria amethysea
Sulphur Tuft
Porcelain fungus growing on dead Beech wood.
No fungi were picked for the pot, leaving this nature reserve intact.
Excessive picking of fungi elsewhere has, according to Simon, lead to a virtual
disappearance of once-common edible species. One of the benefits of this morning was that with so many eyes probing the undergrowth, many fungi were found that a single individual would miss.
Many thanks to Max from Cuckfield Local and to Simon for such an enjoyable event.

On Tuesday 27th October, I shall be leading a walk from the Mid Sussex Ramblers' programme
passing through New England Wood - cake in Cuckfield - Blunts Wood - Penland Farm - Gravelye Farm - Whiteman's Green.
We will hopefully see many fungi in these two lovely woods and in the fields.
No picking though folks without a land owner's consent.
Click the Mid Sussex Ramblers' site here for information on my Cuckfield Cake Walk
and others from our walks program.
Note also an illustrated talk that I shall be giving on
The Solent Way - a 60 miles stroll through history,
after the Mid Sussex Ramblers' AGM at 20.00hr on Wednesday 18 November in Haywards Heath Town Hall.

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