Review of the Wildlife of Epping Forest 2001 - March 2002
JEREMY DAGLEY
Forest Conservation Officer, Corporation of London, The Warren, Loughton, IG10 4RW
Fungi
Even though recording of fungi has been going on for over 200 years in Epping Forest, more
species new to the Forest are discovered every year. Many of them arc rare and this year there have
been some important finds. The Oak Polypore Buglossoporus pulvillus that was found at Barn
Hoppit in June 2001 grows on ancient Oaks and has only ever been recorded from 30 trees in
Britain. It is protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 under Schedule 8 because of its
rarity across Europe. Such a find at Barn Hoppit adds to the incredible list of rare species from this
part of the Forest and it reflects the ancientness of this Oak wood-pasture and the continuity of old
trees here.
Another rare fungus of ancient trees, this time of Beech, Creolophus cirrhatus, which was reported
for 1999 and 2000 was again present on the same tree in even greater quantity. A so-called tooth
fungus this species and its allies arc now being monitored across Europe because of their rarity and
vulnerability to habitat change.
Interesting discoveries were also made elsewhere. In the Lower Forest two rare colour-caps were
discovered for the first time in Epping Forest. One, Russula lilacea, is uncommon in Europe and
found only under Hornbeams. The other, Russula carminipes, is only the 3rd record for Britain for
this fungus. In addition at the Lower Forest, Pluteus leoninus, a very rare wood-rotter was found in
profusion and another uncommon bracket found on old trees, Ganoderma lucidum was seen on an
old Hornbeam. These findings revealed the great importance of the Lower Forest even though it
has not been included within the current boundaries for the Forest cSAC.
Another uncommon colour-cap last seen in 1993, the Geranium-scented Colour-cap Russula fellea,
was found in October in Little Monk Wood by one of the regular licenced fungus forays, which
provide many of the new discoveries for the Forest just as they were doing 120 years ago.
Horn of Plenty Craterellus cornucopioides, which had a good year in 2000 after a run of poor
years, was seen again in the area between Loughton Camp and Debden Slade in several places. For
a fungus that may be susceptible to pollution these sightings were encouraging.
Liverworts and Mosses
Reconnaissance was undertaken in May 2001 of known sites for the legally-protected moss, Forster's
Knot-hole Moss Zygodon forsteri around Court Hill, Great Monk Wood. The work, conducted by
Essex's Bryophyte Recorder Dr Ken Adams and Forest conservation staff, showed that the population
was healthier than was feared. Colonies were found on 7 old Beech pollards and an eighth site was
confirmed later in the summer in another location. Although much reduced from the 19 or so
colonies recorded in the 1980s, the heartening aspect to this preliminary survey was that the moss
had colonised a number of new trees.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)
63