My heart still skips a beat when I think about the magical world of medicinal plants growing wild around us. Just imagine – countless generations before us have tapped into this natural pharmacy, gathering remedies from trees and meadows for thousands of years! Let me share something wonderful with you…
Category: Mushrooms
Yellow Brain Fungus / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica), also known as Witch’s Butter, is a striking jelly fungus that’s hard to miss with its vibrant, golden-yellow colour and gelatinous, brain-like texture. Found growing on dead and decaying hardwood, especially…
Collared Earthstar / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Inedible The Collared Earthstar (Geastrum triplex) is a truly unique fungus that looks like it’s stepped straight out of a fairy tale. Found in woodlands across the UK, this fascinating mushroom starts as a simple puffball before splitting open into star-like…
Dead man’s fingers / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) is a striking and slightly eerie fungus that earns its name from its unusual appearance. Found growing on decaying hardwood, particularly around tree stumps and buried roots, this fungus resembles blackened, finger-like shapes emerging from…
Scaly Wood Mushroom / Summer / Autumn / Edible The Scaly Wood Mushroom (Agaricus langei), often found in woodlands across the UK, is a prized edible mushroom known for its distinctive scaly brown cap and delicate flavour. With its robust, earthy aroma and ability to enhance a variety of dishes,…
Shaggy Bracket / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Shaggy Bracket (Inonotus hispidus) is a bold and fascinating fungus often found on deciduous trees such as ash and apple across the UK. Its large, shaggy-looking brackets and rusty brown colour make it a distinctive sight, particularly…
Poplar field cap / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible The Poplar Field cap (Agrocybe cylindracea), also known as the Poplar Mushroom or Willow Mushroom, is an edible delight that thrives on decaying wood, particularly around poplar, willow, and other hardwood trees. With its smooth, tan-brown cap, creamy gills,…
Chaga / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a unique fungus prized for its medicinal properties and revered in traditional medicine for centuries. Growing primarily on birch trees in colder climates, this irregular, black, crusty growth may not look like a…
Cauliflower fungus / Summer / Autumn / Edible The Cauliflower Fungus (Sparassis crispa) is one of the most distinctive and rewarding wild mushrooms to forage. Resembling a large, ruffled brain or a head of cauliflower, this edible fungus is not only a visual marvel but also a culinary delight. Found…
Poison Pie / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Toxic The Poison Pie (Hebeloma species) is a group of toxic mushrooms often found in woodlands, grassy areas, and even parklands across the UK. With their smooth, pale-brown caps and cream-coloured gills, they might look like an edible treat to an…