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Fungi and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
There are some groups of fungi which we already know are likely to fall outside existing nature reserves
or other recognised wildlife sites. One of these groups is the waxcap communities on otherwise species-
poor but unimproved grasslands. During 2000, English Nature hopes to look at important waxcap
grasslands in England, to determine their ecological and conservation requirements, the need for further
research and for improved site protection. Little Leighs Churchyard is one important waxcap site
identified in Essex (Boniface 1999,2000). Some twenty species of waxcap have been recorded atthis
site, which include the priority BAP species Hygrocybe calyptriformis and the rare Hygrocybe punicea.
I would be interested to hearing of any other similarly interesting sites.
Another group which may fall outside sites already known for other taxonomic groups is the threatened
tooth (or stipitate hydnoid) fungi. English Nature intends to complement the work carried out in the
New Forest and in Scotland, by identifying the important stipitate hydnoid fungi sites in England and
to determine their ecological and conservation requirements. A number of species in this group have
been recorded in Essex (see Table 1). Again, I would be interested in knowing more about any site
where these priority BAP species have been recorded.
Very little is known about the ecology and conservation requirements of fungi. English Nature will be
working together with the academic community to investigate the ecology, including ex situ cultivation
and translocation techniques, for three species of the genus Hericium, including H. erinaceum and H
coralloides. The field work will be centred on the New Forest and cany forward the work already done
by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The ex situ cultivation work may also take place at other
known sites. All three Hericium species are found in Epping Forest (Kibby 1998). It is hoped that
similar work will also start this year on the Oak Polypore Buglossoporus pulvinus. This species has
also been recorded in Essex at Danbury Common. Unfortunately I know little more than this about its
occurrence in Essex, and so I would be pleased to know more about this record and any other sightings.
In general, I would be very interested to hear about any important fungal sites in Essex, particularly
where species listed in the UK BAP have been recorded. It is also important to pass any new records on
to the British Mycological Society so they can be included in the fungi database.
References
BONIFACE, T. (1999) Spotlight on fungi. Essex Field Club Newsletter 30: 2-3.
BONIFACE. T. (2000) Nationally important site in Essex. Essex Field Club Newsletter 31: 15.
CANNON, P.P. & HAWKSWORTH, D.L. (1995) The diversity of fungi associated with vascular plants: the
known, the unknown and the need to bridge the knowledge gap. Adv. Plant Sci. 11: 277-302.
DOBSON, A. & CRAWLEY, M. (1994) Pathogens and the structure of plant communities. TREE 9: 393-
397.
ENGLISH NATURE (1998) The Conservation of Wild Mushrooms. English Nature, Peterborough.
HAWKSWORTH, D.L. (1991) The fungal dimension of biodiversity: magnitude, significance, and
conservation. Mycol. Res. 95: 641-65.
HODGETTS, N.G. (1993) The Conservation of Lower Plants in Britain and Ireland. JNCC, Peterborough.
ING, B. (1992) A provisional red data list of British fungi. Mycologist 6: 124-8.
KIBBY, G. (1998) Epping Forest and the status of possible endangered fungi. (Unpublished report).
MARREN, P. (1999) Wildlife Reports. British Wildlife 10: 282-3.
RAYNER, A.D.M. (1993) The fundamental importance of fungi in woodlands. British Wildlife 4: 205-15.
READ, H. (2000) Veteran Trees: a guide to good management. English Nature, Peterborough.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)