Does it Feel Like First Week of Autumn?

As autumnal temperatures and wet weather set in this week, early emerging fungi have been popping up all across the reserve.

The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) is a common woodland fungi which gets its name from how its colour can change in weather and as it ages. When there is wet weather, young Deceivers are a reddish-brown colour.

Another colour changing fungi is the Blushing Bracket (Daedaleopsis confragosa) which tends to have shades of pink on its top surface, and its white underside bruises pink when touched!

The nibbled fungi pictured below is a Crab Brittlegill (Russula xerampelina), which smells like crab! The scent gets stronger as the fungi ages.

Meanwhile this week, work on the wildflower meadow continues, with staff and volunteers diligently scything away.

On the ground, among the thick thatch of the long grass, a couple of small mammal nests (likely made by Field Voles) were discovered while scything.

The reserve remains closed to the general public, with access limited to organised events. Check out the events page to find out what's coming up this autumn: https://foxglovecovert.org.uk/events.