Saffron Milk Caps
It’s a fungus which exudes carrot-coloured milk. It bruises a strange colour of green. It’s orange becoming white towards the centre of …
A Parasol in the field
This is a Parasol, Macrolepiota procera. I’ve seen Parasols before with a clear faerie ring over 60m wide in a high mountain …
Chanterelles and Winter Chanterelles
There are Chanterelles in abundance in the woods. These are Cantharellus cibarius, and a beautiful eggy yellow. They’ll be perfect with scrambled …
Flystool
There’s a fabulous ink cap on chipped wood on the edge of the field. It’s Coprinopsis lagopus var. lagopus, the Hare’s Foot …
Grey Knights under the pines
There is a beautiful group of Grey Knight fungi under the pines. Their scientific name is Tricholoma terreum. They are growing on …
Scattered Sickeners
There are bright red fungi all over the floor of this beech wood. They are Russulas, commonly known as Brittlegills, and they …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #27
For Henry by Astrid Williamson
Turkey Tails
This Birch tree is gradually decomposing. It’s covered in Turkey Tail fungus, Trametes versicolor. It’s one I remember from my childhood, although …
Coal black
When did you last see a piece of coal? How many people under the age of 30 have ever seen a piece? …
Spangle Galls
This fallen oak leaf is covered in galls. They look like they’re caused by Neuroterus quercusbaccarum, which has injected eggs and produced …
Birch
Birch trees are spectacular. These have fallen and this one has begun to break apart, with the cut bark beginning to give …
Laurel fungus in Madeira
Here’s a find from when it was possible to travel There’s a fungus on this laurel tree: It’s Laurobasidium lauri, which grows …
A pig stretching its legs
We arrive at Challacombe Farm to a piggy greeting. It’s clearly pleased to see us and trots alongside us for ten minutes …
Since when was the Cotswolds in Mesopotamia?
Sheep. They’re fascinating animals. There are 23 million sheep in the UK. That’s a lot of sheep. Sheep are frequently described as …
Sunset over Tafts
One of my favourite photographs from Orkney is Sunset over Tafts. It sums up the surprising drama of a landscape, which is …
Rock Pipits
There’s a noisy young pipit on the rocks. It’s the perfect colour for these lichen covered rocks. It has a lovely delicate …
The child within
There are the remains of a small tree on Bovey Heath. It’s started to disintegrate and the trunk has shattered. Deep within …
Piggy little lies
We arrive at Challacombe farm to find a happy, inquisitive pig. It’s quite small and not too intimidating. It follows us as …
Green islands in the fall of the leaf
The leaves are turning brown and falling. Fall is the traditional English name for Autumn, it’s not an Americanism. Spring was called …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #26
Rewilding by Richard Durrant.
Birch Brackets and extinct elephants
This Birch Bracket fungus is Piptoporous betulinus. It looks like a bicycle saddle here. I almost expect it to have springs underneath like …
Pottering amongst the potters of Bovey Heath
In early autumn I visited Bovey Heath to meet John Walters, a fabulous entomologist, artist and speaker. He’d promised to show me …
Deceptive
Walking through woodland in autumn is always a delight. The sights and smells are fascinating. I’m delighted when I find a Deceiver, …
Jewels in autumn leaves
There are warty jewels hidden amongst the leaves on the woodland floor. These are Common Puffballs, Lycoperdon perlatum. It’s always an impressive …
Baby pink mushrooms which smell of radish
There’s a beautiful baby pink fungus on the Heath. I suspect it might be Mycena rosea, the Rosy Bonnet: It’s hard to …
Fly Agarics
There are Fly Agarics in abundance on Bovey Heath at the moment. It’s tricky to find one which hasn’t been partially eaten …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #25
The Living Mountain by Jenny Sturgeon
A waterfall of Hedgehogs and Rubber Brush risotto
Hedgehog fungi are one of the easiest to identify. If it has a central stem, a pale off-white cap and the underneath …
Doggy Paddle
Kayaking always looks such great fun. I wish I did it more often. This kayaker has a couple of passengers. They’re better …
With this ring…
Maybe not.