with the first fungus foray held by the Essex Field Club ... Oct. 2nd. 1880' and also 'Epping being
perhaps one of the best localities for the larger fungi in England'. It is this unbroken record of over 120
years of collecting, revealing perhaps some of the changes that have occurred in the Forest flora, that is
so valuable. Other woodlands, such as the New Forest, are in fact richer in species, gaining as they do
some of the species found only in the warmer southern regions, but do not have this long historical context.
A number of species were first described from specimens found in Epping Forest; some of these
namings have survived unchanged, others have later been synonymized with other species or are
simply not well enough known to be certain of their identity. Species such as Gymnopilus decipiens
Smith, described from burnt soil, remained a rarity in the forest, not being re-recorded since Pearson's
1938 list until 1977 when, following extensive fires, it appeared in hundreds on Leyton flats. In
contrast Stropharia worthingtonii described by the famous mycologist Elias Fries from specimens
sent to him by Worthington G. Smith survived for many years before being synonymized with S.
albocyanea. This species in its turn has since been synonymized with S. pseudocyanea! Similarly
Coprinus fuscescens Fries is a doubtful species now usually considered a form of the well known C.
atramentarius but perhaps if fresh specimens are collected and examined using modern techniques
maybe it will re-emerge as a species in its own right.
The Changing Forest
That changes have occurred in the Forest fungi is inevitable, just as the Forest of today is not the
same as that Forest of 1880 in which Mr. English collected, so the plants, animals and fungi have all
changed or adapted along with the woodland. The encroachment of housing, the reduction in grazing
in the woodland and in the open grassy areas, atmospheric pollution and changes in climate (whether
short term or long!) have all undoubtedly influenced the fungi we see today. Some of the most obvious
changes are in the grassland species. The short, grazed turf, formed by a variety of grazing animals - so
conducive to the growth of many fungi - is now greatly reduced and the fungi are also rarely found.
Species of the genus Hygrocybe (= Hygrophorus in part), so typical of such pasture land, with their
bright colours and waxy fruiting bodies are now scarcely to be seen anywhere although a number of
species are on the list and were certainly commoner in times past. Species such as Agaricus
campestris, and Lepiota procera, also typical of such areas and stated as being very common in old
lists, are now quite uncommon.
The practice of pollarding trees which was very common throughout the Forest, with the subsequent
opening up of the Forest canopy and the growth of varied understory of plants on the Forest floor,
ceased following the Epping Forest Act of 1878. This led to a reduction in the species of flowering
plants and probably a similar reduction in certain fungi. Contrary to popular belief, all fungi do not
like dark, shady woodlands and indeed the greatest variety of species are found in open, light woods,
with good grassy clearings or grazed areas. As part of a move to recreate the more open, varied
woodland habitat, some limited pollarding is once again being undertaken, and it will be interesting
to see what fungi appear in response to this.
The amount of dead wood left to lay and rot also became less and for many years there was the
practice of removing a lot of dead timber. This led to a loss or reduction of many insect species and
fungi also. Genera such as Pluteus which are almost totally lignicolous are relatively poorly
represented in the Forest despite the variety and quantity of trees present. These fungi seem to require
a minimum amount of old, rotten timber to flourish and it is to be hoped that the increase of dead
timber to be seen in the Forest will lead to an increase of these and other lignicolous species.
Pollution is a harder factor to assess, although there is every reason to suspect that fungi are as
susceptible as their close relatives the Lichens which have traditionally been used to assess pollution
levels. Studies in northern Europe in Holland. Germany and Sweden have all revealed reductions in
the number of fruit-bodies and of species in recent years. Mainland Europe differs from Britain of
course in that so many people collect and eat wild mushrooms, in contrast to our relative mycophobia
and this doubtless also has some effect on numbers. However, species not collected for food and
included in the surveys have also been dropping in numbers. Likely culprits include acid rain,
pollution from cars and perhaps the rise in temperatures due to the predicted 'greenhouse effect'.
The greenhouse effect is the subject of much argument with many believing the succession of years
with higher than normal temperatures and lower rainfall to be merely short term and perfectly natural
fluctuations in the climate. Whatever the truth may be, there is no doubt that the succession of droughts
experienced in the Forest in recent years, starting back in the 1970s has had a drastic effect on both
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