Cleeve Hill 19th August 2012

After all this damp weather I thought there may be some mushrooms on Cleeve Hill. I followed my normal route up to the trig point at Cleeve Cloud. There were plenty of small common puffballs on the way.

At the place where I usually find some mushrooms, there they were! Some nice looking field mushrooms. Or so I thought. After picking them, I noticed some yellow staining were they had been bruised. They were Yellow Stainers! Unfortunately these can give you stomach problems.

I carried on towards the radio masts and came across what would have been some nice field mushrooms. But either sheep or humans had kicked them over.

A short distance away I found something special. A large horse mushroom! In good condition, so I put it in my bag to take home.

Not much farther on I spotted something weird. On inspection it turned out to be a giant puffball! It was on the way out unfortunately. My brother-in-law had told me they grow somewhere near the radio masts, so I took a picture of the masts so I could find the spot again.

Nearby were the shells of others that had burst and were strewing their spores over the grass.

In this photo you can see the spores spread away from the puffball in a brown trail.

There is a project running on Cleeve Common to rejuvenate the heather that has been grazed by sheep. Some areas have been fenced off.

I found this fungi. It is a type of bolete, but I was unable to identify it specifically. It is one of around five that stain blue when cut or bruised.

On the way down to the pond above Postlip Manor, I found this tiny but interesting fungi. It's eyelash fungus.

All in all, some good finds.

Wild Raspberries 15th July 2012

I visited my favourite woods today, primarily to pick some wild raspberries. Last year I was picking them two weeks ago, but the awful summer weather this year has made them late.

I found a few and then spied this nice butterfly.

I went to where they were most prolific last year, but was disappointed to find very few. I think what has happened is that areas have been cleared in the autumn to promote the growth of wild flowers and that means some raspberry bushes have been cut down, Now that is not a bad thing as raspberries fruit on old wood. i.e. the first years shoots do not bear fruit and they will fruit the following year. So I'm expecting a bumper crop next year. I found a few and ate them on the hoof!

Spotted this nice honeysuckle where the raspberries used to grow.

Early Mushrooms - 1st July 2012

I went for a walk in my favourite woods, to check out the status of the wild raspberries. Before I got to the raspberries, I found this fungi. I'm pretty sure it's a Wood Mushroom.

It looks and smells very similar to a Field Mushroom. Normally an Autumn species. I guess the damp weather has fooled it. Very edible!

When I eventually reached the raspberries, they were nowhere near ripe. This time last year I was picking them. So, again the weather has fooled them. I reckon it will be a couple of weeks before they are ready.

On a green near my house I found this fungi.

It looks like a Grey Milk-cap in my Roger Phillips book. Supposed to grow under birch trees. It was growing under a tree. I'll check it next time I pass.

First Forage of 2012.March 22nd

Spring has sprung and it's a nice sunny day in March, so time to get out and find some wild food! The only thing I can think of is wild garlic, so it's off to my favourite wood. There should be the first wild flowers coming through as well. Here's the first, the bluebell. You can see the wild garlic leaves at the bottom left.

This next photo has a bluebell, but I took it because there is a cramp ball fungus (King Alfred's Cake) on the fallen branch behind. These used to be used as tinder, as they will smoulder for hours once lit.

Wood anemones.

Primroses.

Violets.

Back home now to make my Spaghetti Alle Vongole with the wild garlic!