Birchanger Wood fungus foray, Saturday 7th October, 2006
Shirley Watson 18 Thorley Park Road, Bishops Stortford. Herts CM23 3NQ
Birchanger Wood is a 13th century wood on the border of Essex and Hertfordshire; the
larger part is mostly Essex, and so is the eastern section which was cut off by the road
many years ago. We did not explore the other side of the road as planned, because of the
fast moving traffic.
After a changeable week regarding the weather and a very wet day on the Thursday, I was
relieved that the forecast for Saturday was favourable. The day was bright and sunny
which was perfect for poking about in dense woodland. Even amongst the brambles and
deep litter we were soon finding exciting species and many new ones for the wood.
The cameras were out in force to capture these wonderful and interesting life forms. Not
only were we seeing fungi with gills, but boletes with pores, puffballs, resupinates which
are found on wood, moulds and other groups. For me the most striking was the Earth
Star, Geastrum coronatum, which was the first to be spotted, then a few more were seen
on the return journey. Not far into the wood were a few patches of with the delightful
golden shapes of Hare's Ear Otidea onotica. Soon the Blusher Amanita rubescens, Death
Cap Amanita phalloides and False Death Cap Amanita citrina, which is pale lemon in the
cap or as the white form, were found. A small colourful mushroom found on wood turned
out to be a new record for Essex: Lion Shield Pluteus leoninus. We all went home with
something to check or to look up or refresh our knowledge. Fourteen of us had an enjoy-
able day and each learned something from other people's experience and expertise.
Tony Boniface will have a complete list as soon as everyone has added their finds; I am
sure this will be available on request. Come and enjoy a few hours in the countryside if
you arc interested when there is another meeting. You will be most welcome.
EFC fungus foray to Parson's Spring, Highwood on October 10th 2006
Graham Smith 48 The Meads, Ingatestone
Ten members of the Field Club, including Tony Boniface, the County Fungi Recorder,
met at Mill Green at 2pm and drove to Parson's Spring, the westernmost coppice of the
eight compartmentalised woodlands in the Writtle Forest. Among the group were two
new faces: Peter, from Brentwood, who is renewing his interest in fungi photography,
and Matt Brewster, currently a mature student at Writtle College, who has a keen inter-
est in the Forest, past and present.
Parson's Spring stands on the western edge of the ridge of acidic sands and gravels
which comprise the bulk of the woodland soils in the area. Both Cowslip and Hairy
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 52, January 2007
27