Tuberous polypore / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Tuberous Polypore (Polyporus tuberaster) is a delightful find for me. Known for its edible qualities and distinctive growth habit, this mushroom grows from an underground sclerotium—a hard, tuber-like structure that gives it its name. Found on dead…
Category: spring
Spring field caps / Spring / Summer / Edible The Spring Field caps (Agrocybe praecox) are one of the early arrivals in the fungal calendar, popping up in grassy areas and woodland edges as the days start to warm. Its pale, honey-coloured cap and stout stem make it a charming…
Splitgills / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Splitgill (Schizophyllum commune) might be small in size, but it’s a giant when it comes to intrigue. This delicate, fan-shaped fungus is one of the most widespread mushrooms on the planet, thriving on deadwood in a variety of…
Smokey Bracket / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Smokey Bracket (Bjerkandera adusta) is a subtle yet fascinating fungus that you’ve likely walked past countless times without even noticing. Found on decaying wood, especially hardwoods, it’s a common sight in UK woodlands year-round. Its smoky-grey…
Cinnamon Bracket / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Toxic The Cinnamon Bracket (Hapalopilus nidulans) is one of those mushrooms that stops you in your tracks during a woodland walk. Its warm, cinnamon-brown colour and soft, velvety texture make it stand out against the dull greys and greens…
Egghead Mottlegill /Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The first time I came across the Egg head Mottlegill (Panaeolus semiovatus), I was struck by its delicate, egg-shaped cap and intricate mottled gills. This is one of those fungi that catches your eye in horse pastures and other…
Silver leaf fungus / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible The Silver Leaf Fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum) is a fascinating yet inedible fungus often found in UK woodlands, particularly on decaying hardwood trees and stumps. Known for its role as both a de-composer and a plant pathogen, it’s…
Hairy Curtain Crust / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible Through this post we’re going to be delving into the Hairy Curtain Crust Fungi that is sometimes confused for the Turkey Tails Mushroom. If you’re anything like me, the sight of fungi peeking out from tree trunks…
As an avid forager and mushroom enthusiast, I used to be really worried about poisonous mushrooms in the UK, I’ve always been fascinated by the diverse world of fungi in the UK. But let me tell you, not all mushrooms are created equal! Some can be downright dangerous, and that’s…
Deer shield / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible The Deer Shield Mushroom (Pluteus cervinus) is a widespread and commonly found species that thrives in woodland environments across the UK, Europe and North America. I don’t find it that often and it’s one of those mushrooms that…