Fungal Forays: Greenhaugh and Stonehaugh

Today was our first attendance on some of the Forestry Commission's excellent Fungal Forays with expert Gordon Simpson, and what a nice guy he was. A group of 25 of us met in Greenhaugh and moved to the foray area. Gordon had arrived early and lined up a selection of toadstools to use in an introductory talk. During the trip we saw over 30 species from many many genera, including excellent edibles such as Bay Boletes, Chanterelles, Wood Hedgehog, Wood Blewitts and Slippery Jacks as well vividly coloured inedible and poisonous species such as Plums and Custard, Blood-red Webcap, Fly Agaric and many, many more...

Morning Foray: Greenhaugh First School

Heading to a parking spot just past Redheugh for the foray.

Habitat: Mixed Woodland including, Beech, Birch, Pine

Amanita rubensens (The Blusher)

Amanita vaginata (Gristelle)

Boletus badius (Bay Bolete)

Calocera viscosa (Yellow Stagshorn)

Cantarellus cibaius (Chanterelle)

Cordyceps ophioglossoides (Snaketongue Truffleclub)

Cortinarius sanguineus (Blood-red Webcap)

Elaphomyces muricatus (truffle like host for the parasitic snaketongue)

Hydnum repandum (Wood Hedgehog)

Heterobasidian annosum (Root Rot)

Laccaria laccata (The Deceiver)
Laccaria amethystina (Amethyst Deceiver)
Lepista flaccida (Tawny funnel)
Lycoperdon perlatum (Common Puffball)
Phallus impudicus (Stinkhorn)
Piptoporus betulinius (Birch Polyphore)
Paxillus involutus (Brown Rollrim)
Russula ochroleuca (Ochre Brittlegill)
Russula emetica (The Sickener)
Russula sardonia (Primrose Brittlegill)
Suillus luteus (Slippery Jack)

Afternoon Foray: Warksburn Picnic Site, Stonehaugh

Heading to forest track near Grindstone Syke for foray

Habitat: Coniferous plantation, Spruce, Larch, Pine

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)

Amanita vaginata (Gristelle)
Boletus badius (Bay Bolete)
Calocera viscosa (Yellow Stagshorn)
Clitocybe nebularis (Clouded Funnel Cap)
Cortinarius sanguineus (Blood-red Webcap)
Lepista Nuda (Wood Blewitt)
Lepista flaccida (Tawny funnel)
Lycoperdon perlatum (Common Puffball)
Russula ochroleuca (Ochre Brittlegill)
Russula emetica (The Sickener)
Russula sardonia (Primrose Brittlegill)
Tricholomopsis rutilans (Plums and Custard)

Snippits of wisdom from Gordon I'd like to remember...

"Toadstools are the fruiting bodies of fungi whereas Mushrooms are merely a type of toadstool. Therefore technically we were hunting for Toadstools."

"All toadstools are edible although some of them only once!"

"In Britain there are about 20 good edible species and a similar amount are deadly poisonous. The rest are either edible 'stomach fillers' of little culinary value other than nutrition or poisonous types that cause gastric upsets."

"Don't be afraid to taste toadstools by breaking a small piece off and placing it in your mouth for a few seconds before spitting it out. Note hot, acrid or mild tastes as it is a diagnostic indicator."

Of the edible varietes, we collected a fine set of griselles, a few chanterelles and a shaggy parasol, all of which will be eaten! Many more types of Cortinarius, 'Bonnets', Waxcaps and others were seen at both sites who's names I didn't catch. Despite forgetting my camera, mushroom knife and forgetting to buy a basket, the day was an invaluable introduction to toadstools and mushrooms and incredibly we saw 5 of the 'excellent' edible varieties. Bring on the next foray!