This small series celebrates the stunning display of fungi that is visible here in Ladyclough Woods in the autumn. This damp woodland offers the perfect growing conditions for quite rare types of mushroom which flourish late in the year. All photographs on the listings have been taken by me in Ladyclough, although not necessarily next to the hide. It is of course still a very pleasant area for a walk here at any time of year. The final for the 'Masked Mast - Snake in the Pass' multi is also hidden is this wood, remember to have a look for the hidden mast before you come - it really is an extremely easy multi and the first stage can be completed literally as a driveby.
Click here for the Forestry Commission website giving information about this trail. This is one of a small number of caches hidden on the white trail of the Forestry Commission's Ladyclough Wood, and these have all been hidden with their kind permission. Please respect the area and remember the Forest Commission have given their permission for these caches on the understanding you will respect any trail closures if they are felling or working in the area. Please note, part of the wood has been felled and the path can be a little tricky to follow for a brief period.
You will need to make a short detour from the white trail here and follow the footpath to nearly to the stile where the right of way takes you up onto the moors. You get an excellent view from this stile. After finding the cache, return almost to the stile near the river and pick up the white trail.
Perhaps you've seen some puffball mushrooms in a meadow. They initially appear as a white ball that looks perfect for kicking. But give them time and they will change colour to brown as spores appear. The photo shows one that's about halfway through the transition. Puffballs are saprotrophs, meaning they feed on dead organic matter. They're more likely found in meadows and grasslands than in the forest, however, I photographed this one in Ladyclough Woods. They are always found growing on the ground rather than up in trees. They often re-appear in the same place each year, and Puffballs are sometimes found in a large circle called a "fairy ring".
These mushrooms fruit in late summer to early autumn. The fruit body will appear in about a week's time. Young puffballs have a white, fleshy interior. They become brown and discolored when past their prime and ready to release spores. They are also not edible at this stage. All puffball mushrooms bear spores inside the mushroom rather than through external gills. The exterior of the mushroom will eventually crack to release spores. This process is usually hurried along by weather, animals, and humans. An giant version of the puffball contains trillions of spores, but the large variety is usually only found in America. Puffball mushrooms are edible. Some say they have no real taste of their own and just absorb the flavors around them like tofu. Others have described their taste as rich, earthy, and nutty. However, they are easily mistaken for other poisonous types of mushroom, so it would be vital to read up and be sure you knew what you were doing before attempting to eat any.