Friday the 13th Funky Fungi in Wykeham Forest

Having finished work on Friday, I felt the urge to go and stretch my legs, with a nice relaxing evening walk at dusk quickly turning into a fungal foray. Wykeham Forest is relatively good for fungi, with this year appearing to be particularly good with lots around. Some of the highlights below -

Common Puffball is a common species in woodland locally, in Wykeham Forest it is associated with sections of Beech and Oak woodland. I find this species seems to particularly like growing on soil spoil at the side of the forest roads where they have been widened. These were growing beneath a stand of around 8 mature beech trees, with a c.15 puffballs present.    

Orange Birch Bolete occurs scattered in the Yorkshire forests and appears to particularly like stands of open birch woodland. This habitat particularly involves stands of Downy Birch, less than 15 years old which has formed through regeneration and still has a relatively open canopy. Basally these habitats are damp with lots of mosses and fallen timber from previous clear-fell.   

This appears to be Hares Ear Fungus which has gone over slightly. This species seems to favour footpath sides in deciduous and mixed woodland. Its preference for footpath sides is not fully understood but may be linked to changes in micro-climate, humidity, light and soil composition on footpath sides. This is another common and widespread species. 

In coniferous blocks occasional Primrose Brittlegill could be found with its attractive purple-red colouration. The flash on my camera has made this one look redder than it was in real life. This species is heavily associated with conifers particularly pine, although this and a few others were found in sections of spruce. Although pines are frequent around other parts of the forest. 

Rufous Milkcap was undoubtedly the most common mushroom I found this evening with large numbers growing on the base of blocks of spruce plantation. This species has a preference for acidic soils, and is widespread in the Yorkshire Forests, where it thrives. I never eat wild mushrooms for a variety of reasons, this species is not edible and has a mild taste which apparently turns extremely hot in your mouth. 

Wykeham Forest is traditionally an excellent place to find Salmon Salad, which was one of the main reasons I was having a quick look at fungi this evening. I found this one on a ride margin in an area I had never found it before. The more usual area within a block of mixed oak and birch woodland didn't contain any though, this evening. This is a less common species in the wider area and not one I regularly find. It grows on buried deadwood and can be found at any time of year, although is much more abundant during the autumn.  

The Blusher is a species of fungus that is relatively widespread and common although (I believe) it is a favourite with foragers so is often picked before you can find it sadly. This is a mycorrhizal species associated with both coniferous and deciduous trees, although it appears to favour growing on acidic nutrient poor soils in coniferous woodland. This was the only one I found, slightly maggot infested and away from any main tracks. 

Finally another specialty of Wykeham Forest is the White Saddle. This strange looking fungi looks like a deformed mushroom. It is particularly abundant on the trackside of a section of mixed beech and oak woodland. It grows on the well vegetated verges and can easily be missed if obscured by leave, so takes some finding in some situations but like many things once you get your eye in you notice them all over. This is a widespread and common species, although this is one of few sites I regularly record it.