Fungus Foray at Woodhouse Washlands (Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust).

Four of us (Linda & Mick Fairest and Eileen & Graham Gill) from Dronfield Hall Barn Wildlife Group met up with Nabil Abbas of the Trust on a fine sunny Friday morning. He introduced us to a fungi expert, Ziggy Senkans, from Sorby Group who was to lead the walk and provide the expertise to identify any fungus discovered on the walk. A crowd of approx. 40 others of all ages joined the walk!!

We set off from the Furnace Lane entrance and remained at that side of the River Rother, which runs through centre of the reserve. This side of the reserve is made up of grassland and woodland with several ponds. Aside from fungus we decided to make a list of everything else we saw pertaining to natural history.

One thing we did notice was that Ziggy could not immediately recognise some of the fungi as we walked round, and put them in a box for a closer look once he got them home (dissection, , microscopy etc.). This was quite reassuring for us non experts as we often struggle with fungi identification.

Fungi Field Blewitt (Lepista saeva) Petticoat Mottlegill (Panaeolus papilionaceus) Champignon (Marasmius oreades) Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans) Coral Spot (Nectria cinnabarina) False Chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) Snowy Waxcap (Hygrocybe virginea) Tricholomar (Ziggy to identify) Brown Roll-rim (Paxillus involutus) Ivory Bonnet (Mycena flavo-alba) Clustered Dome Cap (Lyophyllum decastes) Galerina (Ziggy to identify) Pale Brittlestem (Psathyrella candolleana) Candle Snuff (Xylaria hypoxylon) Torn Fibrecap (Inocybe lacera) Weeping Widow (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda) Field (Agaricus campestris) Dung Roundhead (Stropharia semiglobata) Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare) Oysterling (Panellus serotinus) ?? Wood Blewitt (Lepista nuda) Shaggy Parasol (Macrolepiota rhacodes) Green Elf Cup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens)

Flowers/Berries Dandelion, Scentless Mayweed, Field Poppy, Cornflower, Rose Hips, Wood Avens, Daisy, Meadow Buttercup, Yarrow, Red Bartsia, Wild Hops, Creeping Thistle, Hawthorn.

Birds Carrion Crow, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Redwing, Mute Swan with 2 Cygnets, Grey Heron, Feral Pigeon, Kingfisher (a fantastic sight flying down the river and then sitting in an over-hanging shrub giving everyone a chance to see it).