Last of the Ceps

 

It's not been an awful year for mushrooms, though nor has it been a particularly good one - around my roams at least. That said, some of my usual choices have been better than others. Ceps (boletus edulis) have been patchy, requiring careful and sustained searching to acquire, whereas Hedgehogs (Hydnum repandum) have been commonplace and easy to acquire, and Oysters (Pleurotus ostreatus) very rare indeed, only appearing in limited numbers after rain. Still, I'm not complaining, there have been worse years. I've enjoyed mushrooms for lunch every day bar one for 6 weeks, and count my blessings. I think this little fellow may represent the last of the Ceps; it's the only one I've seen in a couple of days now. I'll leave him be. Hail and farewell 'till next year.

Hedgies

 

One of the mushrooms that appears to be doing well, so far, this very disappointing mushroom season are Hedgehogs (Hydnum repandum). It's one of my favourites too. Common throughout the forest, usually abundant, very easy to identify and damn tasty to boot. Obviously, never collect anything unless you're 110% certain on identity.

Hedgies

 

One of the mushrooms that appears to have done really well throughout this peculiar fungi season is the Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum). I've seen hedgehog mushrooms where ever we've walked for months now, and it good numbers too. Hedgies are on my edible good list for a couple of reasons; firstly they're edible good and suffer cooking well, secondly they're not easily misidentified due to their distinctive nature. I like that. Unusually Hedgehog mushrooms don't have gills or sponge rather spines, hence the mushrooms' name, they also don't vary much from their creamy salmon pink colour. There are a handful of others in the Hydnellum family, and although these differ noticeably from the Hedgehog mushroom care should always be taken to check every metric.

Out of time

I'm seeing mushrooms I'd not normally expect to encounter until mid/late September; for example these Hedgehog mushrooms (Hydnum repandum), which  look like they've already been up for a week or so. Out in the woods expectation clashes with reality, I'm expecting to find summer though all my senses tell me it's autumn out here. And why wouldn't they. 

 

We've just experienced the 6th wettest July on record, though our sensationalist media, fixated with the extremes of climate change, the flames and floods, have said very little (as far as I know). I'm not suggesting that extreme weather episodes aren't important or newsworthy, nor that we wont be effected by the consequences of extreme weather, though I don't think they'll define 'our' climate change experience. No, ours, extreme episodes aside, is going to manifest in systemic change to environments and ecosystems, brought on by an increase in periods of unseasonal weather and the weakening of fixed seasons; wet when it should be dry, warm when it should be cold and vice versa. The impact on our insect, floral and faunal communities both wild and domesticated cannot be underestimated, nor can the impact on the natural cycles they are we rely upon. I think the media are missing an opportunity to bring everyday climate change at home into focus. Moreover, media silence has created a vacuum quickly and easily filled by mocking climate deniers plying their superficially compelling (under the circumstances) 'climate change, puh' narrative. Silly really.

No Man's Walk

 

I have no idea why No Man's Walk is so named, it's always appeared quite a innocuous stretch of land, nothing visibly or emotionally disconcerting to the place. For years the woodland through here which bordered a narrow deep cut drain, the headwater of Warwickslade Cutting, was a really great spot for Hedgehog mushrooms; though a decade or so ago, the drain was restored to it's original course, the environs now becoming much boggier, and as a consequence the woodlands are not such a great spot for Hedgehog mushrooms. Looks nicer though, more florally diverse, more organic looking; it's natural look is far better. One note: it's not at all boggy at the moment, oh contraire, the forest continues to desiccate as our heatwave continues. 

Hedgehogs ahoy!

It's still very dry out and about in the forest, and although the autumn fungi is slowly emerging, there's been few of the popular (with me anyway) edibles so far this season. So it was a pleasant surprise to spy some Hedgehog mushrooms (Hydnum repandu) in one of my foraging roams...a couple of meals worth were gratefully harvested. 

Hedgehogs

Currently all over the forest, wherever we walk, we see Hedgehog mushrooms (Hydnum repandum). It's quiet late in the season for them, they're usually spent by this time of the year, gone over and too often beyond use. Not this year. Maybe it's the rains coming late, or the lack of significant frost as yet. The hows and whys don't matter though, there's good eating to be had in this tasty and easy to identify mushroom.

Orange Peel fungus

Even though the forest is as dry as a bone, there's all sorts of fungi about (although not in any profusion), and still the favoured edibles are thin on the ground. A Cep here, some Hedgehogs there (an increasing number of Hedgehogs, actually) and some Oysters after it rains. Nothing to write home about, though always a nice addition to breakfast or dinner.  Today's featured mushroom is Orange Peel fungus (Aleuria aurantia), of which a fair amount litter the floor of Burley Old, bringing flashes of vibrant colour the russet hued woodland floor.

Hedgehogs are here!

Added to the fungi role call today, and for the first time this season, the delightful, the delicious and the impossible to misidentify (huzzah!), Hedgehog mushroom (Hydnum repandum). A favourite of mine, and a welcome and tasty addition to the pan.  A lovely mushroom, often found in good quantities, in linear groups and usually maggot free and clean. 

More-shrooms

More edible mushrooms are appearing in the forest, not in great quantities mind, though certainly on the increase. Today’s notables were some Hedgehogs (Hydnum repandum) and Cow Boletes (Suillus bovinus).  Even in light of recent rain, the forest remains quite dry.