Nature on your doorstep in November

THIS MONTH'S CHALLENGE
Explore the wonderful world of fungi - how many mushrooms and lichens can you spot and identify? Can we boost the number of sightings of these extraordinary organisms on our map? Take a look at what we've found so far.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has a useful information page about fungi we might find locally, here https://www.ywt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer/fungi, and it would be amazing to find out which of these we have in our area. I’ve seen Jelly Ear and Birch Polypore - how many of the others can we spot? It’s a good way to learn our trees, too, as many fungi are only found on a single tree species.

THIS MONTH'S TIP comes from Spun Earth:-

~ Look after our soil

Spun Earth works to ‘map, protect and harness mycorrhizal networks.’ Mycorrhiza means ‘fungus root’, and refers to the relationships between plant roots and belowground fungi. Mycorrhizal fungi are truly important for plant nutrient uptake, water absorption and overall health. There’s a lot we don’t know about these fungi, but we do know that supporting them means looking after our soil.

Here’s some ideas about how to care for the soil in your garden/ plant pots

Leave a layer of organic matter like leaves on top of the soil
Disturb the topsoil as little as possible
Plant a diverse range of native plants - this will encourage a range of native fungi
Don’t leave soil bare for long periods of time
Avoid fungicides and chemical fertilizers

There’s more information here: https://www.spun.earth/articles/how-to-encourage-healthy-mycorrhizal-networks-in-your-own-soil

While belowground mycorrhizal fungi are helping our gardens to thrive, what we’re hoping we’ll notice - and add to iNaturalist! - are fungi above ground. Here’s FIVE FASCINATING FACTS about fungi, from Plantlife:

The largest organism in the world is a fungus. It’s called the Humongous Fungus, and it’s in Oregon, USA. It’s approximately 931 square hectares! It’s also extremely old - at least 1,900 years old, perhaps many thousands more.
Fungi aren’t plants; they belong to their own separate botanical kingdom and amazingly are more closely related to people than to plants! We (us and fungi) have a common ancestor dating back around 1 billion years.
Fungi are essential for the nutrient cycles of our planet. They decompose organic matter - and are the only organisms that can break down plant cell walls. So without fungi, any plant that has ever lived would not have fully decomposed.
People have been using fungi for thousands of years. Otzi ‘The Iceman’ who lived between 3350 and 3105 BC, and whose body was found in 1991, had harvested fungi in his bag.
Fungi have some memorable names. Jelly Ear, Eyelash fungus, Dog Vomit Slime Mould, Chicken-of-the-woods, and Angel’s Wings are all in West Yorkshire.

THIS MONTH'S LINK is to:
Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch https://www.plantlife.org.uk/waxcapwatch/
Plantlife is asking for help to find Britain’s most colourful and important fungi - waxcaps.
They can be found growing in urban grasslands including lawns, parks, cemeteries, and roadside verges, as well as in larger grasslands.

Enjoy your month of nature spotting! All comments and questions are welcome, as always.

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