Fungi of Ebernoe
By Kerry Williams
Communications Officer - Conservation
I heard Ebernoe Common was a fantastic place to see fungi in Sussex, so I rocked up for a September stomp. I was not disappointed. With towering ancient trees, layers of leafy understory dispersed with moss splattered deadwood, and pockets of sun-dappled glade, Ebernoe reminds you of what England should look like.
Fungi are neither plant nor animal, but a group of their own. This kingdom comprises a mighty 15,000 species. They are vital players in our ecosystem, forming intricate underground connections with tree roots through tiny threads called mycelium. These vast mycorrhizal networks are sharing chains for water, nutrients, and astonishingly, information. The up-top result is the fruit of this subterranean labour; mushrooms.
Examples of these incredible organisms sprout at Ebernoe’s every turn; head out this autumn to spot them.
Amethyst Deceiver
A flash of purple identifies the Amethyst Deceiver (pictured above) in the early stages of growth. The deception begins as the toadstool ages, changing colour to buff, making it harder to recognise.
Wrinkled Peach
A companion of the Elm tree, the Wrinkled Peach is now less common in the UK due to Dutch Elm disease. This makes this sighting, complete with oozing goo, particularly special.
Saffrondrop Bonnet
A dainty toadstool, so-named due to the splashes of dark yellow which form on the cap. This characteristic helps to distinguish it from the many in the Bonnet, or Mycenas, group.
Smooth Puffball
The Puffballs, or Lycoperdons, are named after the way they create and release their spores. Matured inside the bulbous ball, spores are liberated on impact – in a puff!
Beefsteak
Look up! Usually found on the trunks or stumps of oak trees, the Beefsteak lives up to its namesake, even dripping a blood-like substance when cut.
A note on foraging
Some fungi are edible, many are toxic and some can be fatal. It can be difficult to confidently identify fungi and even the experts are cautious, so we do not advise eating anything that you find.
When out looking for fungi, please leave them where you find them so that they can complete their life cycle (as fruiting bodies, their function is to produce and disperse spores for reproduction), so they can support biodiversity and so that others can enjoy seeing them.
We ask that you do not forage for fungi on our nature reserves. For further guidance, the British Mycological Society has produced a useful code of conduct BMS: Conservation.
Comments
Been to Ebernoe many times in the past but never when toadstools are fruiting. A lovely snap shot of forest beauty.
10 Oct 2024 10:41:00
What a lovely article! I walked around on my hill above Brighton, looking for mushrooms. I’m not that agile to go too far into the trees. Nada.
Do you know why there are none to be seen here. There used to be! Thank you.
10 Oct 2024 16:21:00
Thanks for your newsletter with interesting info about fungi. But please don’t tell people not to eat anything they find. This country has a weird attitude to fungi. If you know for sure what you are looking at is edible (and many are!) then go ahead and enjoy. I realise people must be cautious (but not so afraid they will not eat even the most obviously recognisable and well edible species). Why not instruct people how to take a spore print reading/get a reputable book/check on recognisable/authoritative websites. By the way in France you can take any fungi to the pharmacist who is obliged to identify it for you and tell you whether it is edible or poisonous.
10 Oct 2024 17:22:00
Thank you. Really interesting.
11 Oct 2024 17:18:00
As you say, Ebernoe reminds one of what English woodlands used to look like and should still look like. Thank you for the beautiful photographs.
17 Oct 2024 16:08:00
An interesting article thank you -together with some wonderful images
18 Oct 2024 17:08:00
Thank you. Great to have more examples of fungi illustrated and described.
21 Oct 2024 16:14:00
I found this fungi pack very informative. Thank you
02 Oct 2025 10:54:00
Fungi are such beautiful works of art; thank you for the fungi guide and Ebernoe Common photos – it’s truly amazing the variety and colour range of these natural gifts!
03 Oct 2025 09:12:00
I seek information about “Honey Fungus” and :-
1. What benefits from it?
2. If this is found atthe base ofan Oak Tree can the oak tree recover and what percentage of recovery is likely?
3.My experience is that they are most likely to recover and they do not become dangerous for several decades until they show serious signs of decay.
4. The reason for asking is that Horshm district council (HDC) have authorised felling of a perfectly healthy looking 200 year old and the Parish Council accept the HDC Tree officers decision.
03 Oct 2025 14:47:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Decisions about whether a tree needs to felled are highly contextual. The extent of infection is often hard to assess without felling the tree, and if there's deemed to be risk to human life or property that will weigh heavily on any decision.
Walked around Graffam & Lavington common on the weekend, at least 40 different fungi species some i have never seen before.
Is there any way of down loading photos
17 Oct 2025 10:29:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
We recommend using iNaturalist - a good way to get identifications checked (and confirmed records are submitted to our county records)
A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist