Gordon Crutchfield led a walk from Tokers Green on Wednesday 18th December. The weather was unseasonably mild and there were still green leaves on Elder and Spindle, with a thinning cover of tawny leaves on the oaks. The walk started out through a strip of woodland next to Mapledurham Golf Course. Almost immediately, Stereum gausapatum, which stained red when scratched, was found on a fallen oak branch. Other fungi in the first section of woodland included the Blusher, Clouded Agaric, Buttercap and Wood Blewit. A Nuthatch called from one of the trees. The path then crossed an open section of golf course, before dropping down into Bardolph’s Wood (with a fallen beech trunk across the path as an extra obstacle). The next section of the route followed the lane into Kidmore End. Where it climbed out of a dip, the high banks of the lane were layered, with chalk at the base and dark soil above. Deep animal holes tunnelled into the chalk.
The next footpath led past Kidmore End cemetery and across a grassy field. Small orange blobs on a gate post were identified as the fungus Common Jellyspot Dacrymyces stillatus. The track rejoined Chalkhouse Green Road at Kidmore House, where Redwings were eating the berries on a tall holly. Luxuriant growth of Jelly Ear on a log in the ditch attracted the attention of the party. A rusty pink fungus with an off-centre stalk was Rhodotus palmatus, a species which is found on elm. The log also had the white jelly-like fungus White Brain Exidia thuretiana. Further on, Hazel catkins were a surprise find for December. Wood Blewits and Tawny Funnel were found beside the next track, which led back towards Tokers Green. Another section with dead elm logs proved to be good for fungi, with Oyster Mushrooms and some cup fungi belonging to the Peziza family. A single specimen of Agaricus bitorquis, which has a double ring round its stem and is reputed to be good to eat, was found on the verge. The party then continued to the White Horse at Emmer Green for lunch, where they were joined by 2 more members.
Pictures by Laurie Haseler