Fabulous Fungi!
Maybe not your first thought when thinking about biodiversity, but at this time of year Fungi can be found all over our open spaces. One really good place to find a lots of different types is Heathlands Cemetery. All the examples in the photos seen here, were found on one trip to the cemetery last week and some were easier to spot than others! The cemetery benefits from being both quiet and undisturbed and of course is right next to Yateley Common, an area of nationally important lowland heath habitat.
Fungi is a really important part of our ecosystem and is good for soil health and nutrient cycling. Mycorrhizal fungi are a group of fungi found in soil that form partnerships with the roots of nearly all plants, this type of fungi helps with the storing of carbon and so is doing its bit for climate change.
Many wild mushrooms are difficult to accurately identify and are toxic if eaten so its best to simply enjoy seeing them and leave them where they are, however once you start looking for them, you’ll be surprised how many you can find. 🙂
To start off a new series focusing on the biodiversity found in our open spaces, we take a look at fungi!