On a dreary February evening, members and visitors enjoyed ecologist Richard Sunter’s beautifully illustrated Virtual Fungi Foray, which he brought to us with great enthusiasm. We learnt, amongst other fascinating facts, that our local Gentleshaw Churchyard is a waxcap grassland site of regional importance with over 14 species of interest. The colourful group includes earthtongues as well as coral and club fungi, some with distinctive smells of honey and cedar. Thank you to Christie for the photos from a local autumn foray with Richard.
Richard explained that Fungi form a biological kingdom of their own, closer to humans than to plants from a molecular perspective! Many species of grassland fungi are rare and declining, as they prefer ancient pastures and grasslands that have not been agriculturally improved, hence the particular importance of churchyards. After his talk Richard answered questions and drew the raffle before judging our monthly competition.
There were some lovely entries again, so varied, as you can see from the photos below – all single stem. Sue’s wonderfully perfumed sarcococca took 1st place with Angela’s unusual yellow hellebore 2nd and Ena’s heather 3rd. Members and guests enjoyed looking at the display over refreshments as well as browsing our popular spare seeds/plants/recycling table.
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