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  • Writer's pictureSim Elliott

Fungi, Lichen, Bryophytes & Birds. Park Wood. Hellingly. 05.11.22

Updated: Nov 7, 2022


Park Wood is a wood of mixed ancient trees owned by the Environment Agency, with Hornbeam, Oak, Birch and Ash and some coniferous trees with many epiphytes (mosses, liverworts, lichens, and algae and fungi); see Park Wood information page - Environment Agency - Citizen Space (environment-agency.gov.uk) and Park Wood, Hellingly | Sussex Bryophytes (wordpress.com)


I am becoming increasingly interested in the communities of trees, lichens, fungi, mosses and liverworts in Sussex woods. Their interrelationships are fascinating, and important for the future of the planet.


This post is simply an attempt to identify the fungi, lichens and mosses that I saw in a three hour visit to this fantastic wood.


I am very new to the identification of fungi, lichens and bryophytes (mosses and liverworts). Thus far I have only made tentative identifications on the fungi, lichen and bryophytes I saw. The identifications I have made of these species may be wrong! I will update this post as I learn more! This post is a work in progress: a few species I have not been able to identify at all yet.


I used these resurces:


Stefan Buczacki, Chris Shields, Denys W Ovenden (2013) Collins Fungi Guide


Frank S Dobson (2018) Lichens: An illustrated guide to the British and Irish species


Ian Atherton, Sam Bosanquet, Mark Lawley (2019) Mosses and Liverworts of Britian and Ireland; a field guide


I have also used the Obsidentify App Mission - Observation.org


I reached Park Wood by bus. The 12 from Brighton to Eastbourne and then the Stagecoach 1X from Eastbourne to Hellingly. 1X - Roebuck Park - Eastbourne – Stagecoach South East – bustimes.org There is a short walk from the stop (The Drive, one before the terminus at Roebuck Park in Hellingly, but it us up a road (Grove Hill), with no pavements. so extreme caution needs to be taken. Grove Hill takes you to the west entrance of Park Wood.


Walled Maze Polypore or the Blushing Bracket, Daedaleopsis confragosa


Possibly Common Feather-moss, Kindbergia praelonga


Candelsnuff, Xylaria hypoxylon




Bitter Oysterling, Panellus stipticus


Lichens - to be identified





Grey Wagtail


Rotting tree stump


Possibly Oakmoss Lichen, Evernia prunastri



Path through the woods


Dunnock


A moss of the order Hypnales Featger mosses?


Pond


Chestnuts


Candlesnuff, Xylaria hypoxylon


Bleeding Oak Crust, Stereum gausapatum


More low-lying water


Oak?


Birch


Possibly Oakmoss Lichen,Evernia prunastri,


Possibly Hypnum cupressiforme


Yellowing Curtain Crust, Stereum subtomentosum


Birch Polypore, Fomitopsis betulina


Roots of fallen tree


Tripe fungus, Auricularia mesenterica


Tiny Mycena sp, possibly Mycena adscendens




Fungreek Stalkball, Phleogena fainea



Turkeytail, Trametes versicolor.






To be idenitfied


Common Green Shield Lichen, Flavoparmelia caperata



Fenugreek Stalkall, Phleogena fagina



Oak Pin, Culdoniella acicularis.


Candelsnuff, Xylaria hypoxylon


Blackening Brittlegill, Russula nigricans


Birch Milkcap Lactarius tabidus


Unknow fungus, knocked off trees by rain, on chestnuts



Probably, Juniper Haircap, Polytrichum juniperinum



To be identified


Possibly Common Greenshield Lichen, Flavoparmella caperata


SewwtChestnuts


Turkeytail, Trametes versicolor


Small Stagshorn, Calocera cornea


Golden Curtain Crust, Stereum subcomentosum,

underside


Turkeytail, Trametes versicolor

udnerside

underside


Wolf's Milk or Groening's Slime, Lycogala epidendrum, a slime mould


Jelly Rot, Phlebia tremellosa


Small Stagshorn, Calocera cornea


To be identified


To be identified


Yellowing Curtain Crust, Stereum subtomentosum


underside


Scar on birch


Fenugreek Stalkball, Phleogena faginea


Jelly Rot, Phlebia tremellosa

underside




Candlesnuff, Xylaria hypoxylon


to be identified


Peeling Oysterling, Crepidotus mollis



Variable Oysterling, Crepidotus variabilis


Coral Spot, Nectria cinnabarina




Wood scenes


possibly Tree-moss, Climacium dendroides


Uprooted tree


Silver Birch


More Turkeytail, Trametes versicolor


Crystal Brain,Exidia nucleata


One of the ghylls





Blackening brittlegill, Russula nigricans


Blueing Bracket, Postia caesia


Not yet identified


Stumps