Tis the season to see Fungi, fa la la la la....

[Kveldssanger]

2. In the core of the New Forest is the Knightwood Oak, which is the largest oak in the New Forest. I went up to this one just expecting to see a huge oak, but was also greeted by a nice deck of Laetiporus sulphureus along a major limb with significant damage. Fresh as can be, were these sporophores! Great to see such an important tree host to fungi, though that's hardly to be unexpected, given its age and size.

[Kveldssanger]

3. In the arboretum at Bolderwood, which is generally a stand of various species of conifer (P. menziesii, C. deodara, P. nigra, S. giganteum, T. baccata, and so on), stood this quite sorry-looking yew tree. The three sizeable sets of Laetiporus sulphureus probably haven't helped in this regard. You wouldn't catch me cooking these up either, as there's a chance I'd kill myself in the process, given the fungus is feasting on the wholly toxic (to humans) yew!

[Kveldssanger]

4. Right near the car park for the Knightwood Oak (on the same side as the car park, right by the road) sat this multi-stemed Fagus sylvatica. Driving along at 20mph allowed me to scan the roadside area for cool trees with fungi, and I had to pull over for this one. We can see some nice Rigidoporus ulmarius around the remnants of an old stem, and also some very small activity within the upper wall of the large cavity.

[Kveldssanger]

5. On the way to Exbury Gardens, just after I drove through Beaulieu, I spotted an oak with two large brackets around 1m up the main stem. I managed to turn around and park up, though couldn't get too close to the tree as it was in private land protected by barbed wire fencing. Alas, I did get some shots, of which the following show a mature Quercus robur host to Pseudoinonotus dryadeus (syn: Inonotus dryadeus). Nice sporophores!

[Kveldssanger]

6. Driving through what I recall was Brockenhurst, I went past this lovely roadside oak. Courtesy of parked cars and oncoming traffic, I had enough time to inspect the base of the tree, and spotted this magnificent Fistulina hepatica. Easily missed in the afternoon sun! Also the best one of many beefsteaks I saw on oak and sweet chestnut - half of which were the anamorph stage.

[Kveldssanger]

7. When afternoon tea (or fruit smoothie) becomes a fungi hunt at Highcliffe Castle in... Highcliffe (near Christchurch). First time I have seen Acer pseudoplatanus being colonised by Rigidoporus ulmarius.

[JaySmith]

Some lovely shots there, we stayed in Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst a few years ago; very nice part of the world

 

 

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[Kveldssanger]

The other half has family down there so get an excuse to go down every year! Will go down next year when they let the pigs out for pannage. Magical place - never seen so many colours. Walking through a small woodland of holly pollards was different, too!

[Kveldssanger]

8. So I also got over to Brownsea Island, during the week. The missus was on the hunt for red squrrels, whilst I was on the hunt for fungi. Came across these massive Ganoderma australe on a now dead Fagus sylvatica in an area near to the parkland. It was great to see a little sign explaining what the fungus was and why it was left, next to the tree. Great educational tool!

[David Humphries]

8. So I also got over to Brownsea Island, during the week. The missus was on the hunt for red squrrels, whilst I was on the hunt for fungi. Came across these massive Ganoderma australe on a now dead Fagus sylvatica in an area near to the parkland. It was great to see a little sign explaining what the fungus was and why it was left, next to the tree. Great educational tool!

 

Fine series of shots and finds Chris

 

 

 

 

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