On the hunt for fungi in Friston Forest

By David Beer

Eastbourne Local Members Group

A beautiful autumnal morning greeted us as we assembled in the Friston Forest car park. 

Jim and Janet Howell were our expert guides as we set off into the beech woodland. 

Before we had left the car park we were shown some excellent examples of Honey Fungus, Jelly Ear and Giant Polypore. 

Jim and Janet’s passion for all things mycological was infectious and soon our group of 17 walkers were eagerly looking through leaf litter and examining tree stumps and fallen branches for other fungal delights. The names tripped off Janet’s tongue and we soon became experts at spotting Sulphur Tuft, Stump Puff Balls, Candlesnuff and Saffrondrop Bonnet. 

What wonderfully descriptive names! We were treated to a wealth of fungal information and brought right up to date on the most recent research on mycorrhizal fungi. Over 90% of plants depend on mycorrhizal fungi which can link trees in shared networks and as we stood in amongst the beech trees we could imagine the chemical messages passing amongst them using this ‘Wood Wide Web’. We all departed much wiser and a little bit in awe of this fascinating group of organisms.