For much of the year, fungi remain hidden underground as a network of thread-like structures interwoven with tree roots. The fungi and trees can form a mutualistic relationship; by increasing the surface area of their roots, the trees can suck up more nutrients and water while the fungi obtain sugars. They can also have a more sinister relationship, where they slowly kill the trees. These fascinating interactions are mostly hidden from sight, but during autumn many fungi become visible above ground in the form of mushrooms. It is these mushrooms that allow fungi to disperse their spores (microscopic particles that act as seeds do in plants) to reproduce.

Perhaps the most striking fungus is the fly agaric. This is a common mushroom of birch woods, standing out due to its bright red cap dotted with white. You may recognise it as the signature mushroom in fairytales. The colour red is nature’s warning signal, and indeed, the fly agaric is poisonous with hallucinogenic properties. Certainly, don’t eat it.

There are countless other types of fungi that can be found in the UK but sadly these are often overlooked. They don’t necessarily stand out like the vivid colours of the fly agaric, but you can spot them if you know where to find them. 

A good place to start your search is among dead wood in ancient forests. Many fungi are specialised to particular tree species, which can aid your identification. For instance, the porcelain fungus, a brilliant white fungus with a glistening sheen, can only be found on decaying beech trees. Although glamorous sounding, the sheen comes from a slime that coats it and serves as a fungicide. This is to eliminate the surrounding competition and can claim entire areas of beech tree to itself. Note the fungus gills in the image below, which can increase surface area by up to 20 times making these an ideal storage area for spores.

You can also spot fungi by following your nose. Stinkhorns, appropriately named, reek of rotting flesh to attract flies. Insects are rewarded with a sugary treat much like plant pollinators, but they also inadvertently pick up fungi spores which they will unknowingly distribute to other areas.

Puffballs rely on wind instead of insects for spore dispersal. They appear as pale balls on stalks, which turn more yellow as they age making them blend with the forest floor.  A hole will develop at the top so when the puffball is struck by rain or passers-by, it compresses the puffball enabling it to expel a cloud of spores (you might be able to spot this in the image below). You can see this for yourself just by tapping it. It’s very satisfying! They can appear in large clumps in woodland and grass fields, so aren’t too difficult to locate.

Inkcaps also have a unique way of spore dispersal. They are short-lived mushrooms, that can grow quite an impressive size but soon degrades within a week. They effectively destroy themselves and turn into a black mush, which can even be used as a semi-permanent ink – hence its name. As the inkcap disintegrates, the gills curl outwards to release more spores. This also helps to transfer all the sugars from the liquifying mushroom to the spores, giving them the best possible chance to grow.  The image shows a fresh magpie inkcap and they are quite uncommon. Pound Wood (Benfleet, Essex) is an excellent place to spot them.

There are over 15,000 species of fungi that have been recorded in the UK so this selection only scratches the surface of the mushroom world. They can be quite tricky to identify, especially as an aged specimen can look totally different to a fresh one. Amethyst deceivers, for example, are a vibrant purple when fresh but can quickly fade to brown as they age.

Luckily there are identification apps you can download to help you, such as iNaturalist. Simply take a photo, pinpoint the location and it will give you a list of likely options that that species could be. Not only will this app help you with your identification skills, but it will also provide valuable data on species locations and population trends.

Good luck on your fungi forays, you can download our spotter sheet below to help you on your toadstool quest!

Alex Acott

Campaigns Volunteer

Please remember to be careful when hunting for mushrooms as many are poisonous. It’s best to avoid touching or foraging mushrooms to be on the safe side.

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