Fungal foraging

We spent a very enjoyable morning yesterday on a fungal foray run by mycologist Jonathan Revett in Thetford Forest.



Together with our friends Ursula, Dave and Helen...



we found a lovely basketful....



...which Jonathan then checked so that we took home only edible ones (plus a rare earthstar for Helen to take to school).





This year seems to be particularly good - the group as a whole found more than 50 types of mushrooms and toadstools in a couple of hours ambling round the forest.



I loved the range of colours we found - purply and orange and red and yellows - and their wonderful names, such as hares' ears, wood blewits, shaggy parasols, wood woolly-foot, saffron milk cap and amethyst deceivers.













Of course there were also ones that were ugly (black saddle)



very dangerous (death cap)



and weird (stinkhorn)....



I learnt far lot more on this foray than on ones I've done in the past (though still won't be filling the frying pan without an expert to hand!). And I've finally realised that there's no need to try to identify lots of different types - all I have to do is to learn with confidence a few good ones (as well as any they could be confused with and of course in particular the very dangerous ones).

The wood blewit and amethyst deceiver were my favourite new discoveries of the day - not only did I like their colours and taste, but also appreciated the fact that they are easily recognisable!






We started our breakfast with some of yesterday's findings (sadly a few including a big cep had gone past their best and so had to be thrown out) sauted with garlic and parsley...



...then went a little walk to put our new powers of observation to the test - and were pleased to find that we are now able to spot and identify (at least approximately) many more than on a walk a week ago!