Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

On the 19th of October it was our annual Raw Nook LNR Fungi walk lead by the excellent Kat Woolly of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the weather created ideal conditions.

After Kat had explained about the walk itinerary I talked about the site and how great it would be to find some new species for the reserve.

So with motivations running high we set off into the meadow to see what we could find.

It wasn’t long before Kat was running here there and everywhere with cry’s of ‘What’s this ?’ and species like Poison Pie Hebeloma crustuliniforme, and the lovely Snowy Waxcaps Cuphophyllus virgineus were found in abundance.

It was in the meadow that the first new species Crystal Brain Fungus Exidia nucleata was found on a rotting log.

Blackening Waxcaps (opposite) appeared to be doing very well as a good number were found.

Has Kat explained to her enthusiastic audience about how to identify certain species… another interesting fungi was found.

OH! that’s exciting stated Kat…A Parrot Waxcap Gliophorus psittacinus had been found at the edge of the meadow and I knew immediately that this was the second new species of the day for the reserve.

We then started to move into the wooded area finding more and more species like the lovely Rosy Bonnet Mycena rosea and plenty of Brown Rollrim Paxillus involutus.

With all the excitement we had nearly forgotten about lunch!

So we stopped at the pond for something to eat but some people (including myself ) were still looking for fungi. This is when the one of the fungi with a strange names turned up The Jelly Baby Leotia lubrica (oppostite)

After a fungi searching lunch we headed to the top of Raw Nook LNR with it’s heather, Oak trees and grassed habitat to look for any further Waxcaps.

It was in this area the third new species was found the Frosty Wacap Cortinarius hemitrichus.

What was really interesting in this area was the large amount of Amethyst Deceiver Laccaria amethystina (Opposite) that were found…they appeared to be under ever Oak Tree!

Then as the walk started to come to an end it was a time to reflect.

It was brilliant to see the enjoyment people had experienced and heartening to know that people had travelled not only from all parts of Bradford but even Holmefirth!

I have now collated my figures and imputed all the data, 38 different species were identified of which 3 new species were added to the reserve Fungi List.

A number of fungi species were taken away by Kat for further detailed analysis. When I receive that information I will update.

The current total of species recorded mainly at Raw Nook LNR but including Toad Holes Beck and Caldene fields now stands at 130.

MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK KAT AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE THREE NEW SPECIES THAT WERE FOUND.