The Blusher – forty years ago in my nature notebooks

When I was a child a group of retired gentlemen naturalists took me under their wing. I went on weekly countryside walks and fungus forays with them. They taught me to identify every fungus, to notice the tracks, trails and signs of mammals and to note the distinguishing characteristics of every bird. I loved being with them and they really appreciated my sharp eyes and boundless enthusiasm.

One of those fungi was The Blusher. Here’s the entry I made in my nature notebooks as a twelve year old:

And here are my photographs of them now. This one is just emerging:

These are in full flush:

And this one was slightly over and caught by flash in the dark woods.

Here’s to the memory of Mr Kidd and Mr Daws. You were wonderful role models.