Sussex Fungi Group

Jon Need paid us a visit from the Sussex Fungi Group. I had got in touch and suggested they might like to nose around a private woodland. In return I hoped to learn a little more after my recent amateurish efforts. It turned out to be a very worthwhile experience.

Jon was a nice guy who clearly knew his stuff. The group he helped form are researching the range of fungi to be found in Sussex. This then becomes part of a wider national network of groups, known as AFG, that together create a record of the isle's fungi diversity. Jon also leads fungi forays on National Trust land and I'd recommend attending one if you have a passing interest in mushrooms.

My own personal foray was very educational. I had some ones I'd identified already confirmed, others I didn't know explained and we also found a whole bunch more that I had never even noticed!

The range of fungi is quite amazing when you look closely. Apparently a mixed woodland could support over 200 varieties, which I find staggering. More recently it's been recognised what a key role they play in the health of a forest either working in symbiosis with the trees or breaking down dead matter. There are a few bad rogues amongst them too.

I think it's fair to say that we didn't discover anything to set the fungi world alight yet my mixed woodland does contain a good diversity which is good to see. I don't think it's an area that will become my passion but I will continue to keep note of any new finds and try to identify them. For me it's all part of understanding the overall diversity of life of the little bit of land that I'm custodian.

Here are few from the day.

Lilac Bonnet. I'd always wondered what these were.

A puffball but slightly less common the aptly named Common Puffball.

Matt Bolete. I had never even noticed this one before. Now I know where it popped up I'll keep an eye out.

Blushing Bracket. Found on log stumps.

Amanita Citrina. Part of the deadly amanita family.

Jon didn't bamboozle us with latin names either, which was nice. The naming convention plays a key role in the grouping of mushrooms into various families, or genus, but for a novice it can be a little overwhelming. I can understand it's place for sure. For example, the bolete family have tubes rather than gills and are very obvious even if you didn't know the exact variety. The common names, e.g. Buttercap, Blushing Bracket and The Sickener, are more fun though.

Others we found included the False Chanterelle, Brown Roll Rim, Ugly Milkcap, Sulphur Tuft, Larch Bolete, Coral Fungus, Parasol and Ochre Brittlegill. There were a few more but I'm struggling to remember the rest.