Meeting Reports
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Meeting Reports Fungi Walk. Beauchief Abbey Thursday 17th October. Thirteen members of U3A joined with the Sorby Natural History Society for a fungi walk at Beauchief Abbey led by Chris Kelly,Carol Hobart and Jim. It was a beautiful Autumn morning with sunshine on the dewy grass. We first looked at the grassy lawn by the Abbey for fungi that live on decaying thatch. Carol told us about the vital importance of fungi in the decomposition and digestion of dead materials and the importance of them in the cycle of life. Many plants need fungi to be able to utilize nutrients and grow. Microryzal fungus get food directly from a tree and in return the fungus helps to extend the roots of the tree. She mentioned that some groups of fungi have been affected by the imbalance to nature caused by climate change Genus/species English name Date Grid ref. Site Sub area Substrate/habitat ID Lit if known Recorder Determiner Notes Mycena sp. A Bonnet 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly C Kelly A number of unidentified grassland species. Cuphophyllus virgineus Snowy Waxcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall, Cuphophyllus pratensis Meadow Waxcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall, C Hobart Gliophorus irrigatus Slimy Waxcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall, C Hobart Gliophorus psittacinus Parrot Waxcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall, C Hobart Lactarius blennius Slimy Milkcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Under beech C. Kelly C Hobart Hygrocybe glutinipes Glutinous Waxcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall, Porpolomopsis calyptriformisPink Waxcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly C Hobart Galerina sp. A Bell 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly C Hobart Cystoderma amianthinum Earthy Powdercap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly C Hobart Hygrocybe auratiosplendens Orange Waxcap 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall Clavulinopsis luteoalba Apricot Club 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall Clavulinopsis corniculata Meadow Coral 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly J Horsfall, C Hobart Xerocomellus chrysenteron Red Cracking Bolete 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly C Hobart Laccaria laccata The Deceiver 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly C Kelly Hebeloma sp A Poison Pie 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Base of beech hedge C. Kelly C Hobart Rhytisma acerinum Sycamore Tar Spot 17.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Sycamore leaves C. Kelly C Hobart Geoglossum sp An Earthtongue 16.10.19 SK333819 Beauchief Abbey Lawns Unimproved grassland C. Kelly C Hobart Found on reccy on previous day Mycena rosea Rosy Bonnet 17.10.19 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodBeech leaf litter C. Kelly C Kelly Xylaria hypoxylon Candlesnuff Fungus 17.10.19 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead branch C. Kelly C Kelly Lycoperdon perlatum Common Puffball 17.10.20 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodLeaf Litter C. Kelly C Kelly Clitocybe gibba Common Funnel 17.10.21 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodLeaf Litter C. Kelly C Kelly Hypoxylon fragiforme Beech Woodwart 17.10.22 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead beech C. Kelly C Kelly Ascocoryne sp A Purple Jellydisc 17.10.23 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead beech C. Kelly C Kelly Helvella crispa White Saddle 17.10.24 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodSoil C. Kelly C Kelly Exidia thuretiana White Brain 17.10.25 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead tree C. Kelly C Kelly Pluteus cervinus Deer Shield 17.10.26 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodBase of beech tree C. Kelly C Kelly Stereum hirsutum Hairy Curtain Crust 17.10.27 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead log C. Kelly C Kelly Trametes versicolor Turkey Tail 17.10.28 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead log C. Kelly C Kelly Fomes fomentarius Horse's Hoof fungus 17.10.29 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead log C. Kelly C Kelly Ganoderma sp A Bracket 17.10.30 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead log C. Kelly C Kelly Hypholoma fasciculare Sulphur Tuft 17.10.31 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead log C. Kelly C Kelly Bjerkandera adusta Smoky Bracket 17.10.32 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead log C. Kelly C Kelly Clitocybe nebularis Cloudy Funnel 17.10.33 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodLeaf litter C. Kelly C Kelly Rhodocollybia butyracea Butter cap 17.10.34 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodLeaf litter C. Kelly C Kelly Russula sp A Brittlegill 17.10.35 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodUnder beech C. Kelly C Kelly Probably ochraleuca Lepista nuda Wood Blewitt 17.10.36 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodLeaf litter C. Kelly C Kelly Gymnopus dryophilus Russet Toughshank 17.10.37 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodLeaf litter C. Kelly C Kelly Laccaria amethystina Amethyst Deceiver 17.10.38 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodLeaf litter C. Kelly C Kelly Tricholoma sulphureum Sulphur Knight 17.10.39 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodUnder beech C. Kelly C Kelly Pholiota squarrosa Shaggy Scalycap 17.10.40 SK333819 Beauchief Meadow Base of Beech tree C. Kelly C Kelly Lycogala sp A Wolf's Milk Slime Mould17.10.41 SK336818 Beauchief Parkbank WoodDead log C. Kelly C Kelly We then entered Parkbank Wood and Chris showed us many different fungi that live on decaying wood. It was a very informative morning and we are very grateful to Chris,Carol and Jim for showing us so much Al and John Roberts" Visit to Woodhouse Washlands 19th September 2019 A group of 16 people led by Tim Marsh, ably supported by Robin Peel, Ken Balkow, Al and John Roberts & the members, met at Furnace Rd., Woodhouse Washlands, Sheffield (map ref. 432857), for their U3A Natural History September monthly outing. There was a clear blue sky, it was sunny, warm, calm and dry underfoot. The Washlands, on the boundary between Sheffield and Rotherham, is well managed by the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. It straddles the River Rother and comprises 53 hectares of grassland, scrub and alluvial floodplain grazing marsh. The river was straightened in the 1960s leaving ponds, temporary pools and ditches, and a flood barrier was erected at the downstream end at the same time to control the river flow. The area is crossed by a railway viaduct and a road viaduct (A57), and links the Rother Valley Country Park, the Treeton lakes/Orgreave site and Shirebrook Valley Nature reserve, all part of the continuous green corridors amongst the houses and factories, for wildlife across the city. As there is no connection within the Washlands across the river, we walked on the Sheffield (West) side, which probably has more varied habitats. The East side is generally flatter, with some areas fenced, for protection to ground nesting birds, although there is an oxbow lake and it is bordered by the Trans Pennine Trail. The cattle had recently been removed from the Sheffield side, so we wandered from Furnace Lane, where the introduced wildflower mix had recently been cut down, past the large Italian Black Poplar tree and dipping pool and along the river bank, before investigating the ponds, marshes, hedges and ditches and then returning along the river bank. Bird sightings included :– Little Egret, Grey Heron, Sandmartin Cormorant Snipe which were flushed out and flew, Goldfinch Swans Black Headed Gull Chaffinch Carrion Crow Magpie Starling Wood Pigeon Blue Tit Coot Moorhen Other sightings included :- Dragonflies – Common Darter (some mating and ovipositing) and Southern Hawker Butterflies - Small White Some of the plants noted :- Purple Loosestrife Indian balsam Bulrush Celery-leaved buttercup Smooth Hawkesbeard White clover Red clover Common ragwort Creeping Thistle Yarrow Ribbed melilot Great Willowherb Broad-leaved willowherb Canadian fleabane Mugwort Scentless Mayweed Bramble (the blackberries were fantastic) Corn Marigold (probably from a cultivated seed mix) Rosa Rugosa A very enjoyable morning ramble, in perfect weather. Visit to Millersdale. Thursday 15th August 2019 Location: Millersdale Station Carpark Weather: Cloudy and windy at first but becoming sunny. The route taken was west along the Monsall Trail then into the abandoned quarry, further along the trail to the river then back along the riverbank to the carpark. Recent heavy rain had affected the flowering plants. On the side of the trail was an abundance of Knapweed but also some Common Valerian and Angelica. At the side of the path up to the quarry we saw wild strawberries, Field Scabious and Dewberry and Lady’s Mantle. The quarry floor had some carefully marked stems and seed heads of Bee Orchid. Also lots of Eyebright and several Carline Thistle. There was a notice warning of the presence of nesting owls. The consensus was that they may be LIttle Owl but despite intensive searching no owl was seen. Along the riverbank we were able to get a good view of a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail. We also had specimens of Nipplewort and Wall Lettuce growing close together. At the station platform we saw Bloody and Meadow Cranesbills,Toadflax, Dark Mullein and Orpine. As the wind had now dropped and the sun was shining, butterflies were beginning to fly and we had a good view of a Painted Lady. Robin Peel Gang Mine 25th July 2019 Nine members turned up for this meeting on the hottest day of the year and struggled with the heat. We parked at the Stone Centre where we immediately found the following plants of interest in the car park:- Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Smooth Hawksbeard, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Nipplewort, Basil, Albino Broad-leaved Willowherb, American Willowherb, Broad-leaved Helleborine, Dogwood with white berries and Prickly Sow-thistle.