We will be back in the Butterfly Meadow to cut back on the bramble in this area of the park. We have made a lot of progress over the years with visible increases in both wild flowers and insects.

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We were very lucky that Sylvia Starshine stepped in to lead our Autumn Fungi Walk. We were fully booked and everyone turned up on day with weather that was less than inspiring. We started in gentle drizzle and ended in quite strong rain.

Meeting at the BBC Tower, we walked down onto the South Slope to look at some Stump Puffballs on a dead log. Most puffballs are seen on the ground.

We walked down across the Middle Path and into the woodland. In this area we saw lots of different fungi. We saw a classic Fly Agaric with a relation of it the Blusher nearby. Also seen was a Milk Cap with the milky substance obvious on the gills. Large numbers of Deceivers were also seen in this wooded area. What else? Clouded Agarics (left) and the small, common, Candlesnuff fungi. Several Brittlecaps of different were also spread around.

Silvia pointed out the Tripe Fungus growing on dead wood. After a bit of a climb over a large trunk, we were introduced to the Eyelash Fungus and a small group of Lilac Fibrecaps. The highlight was quite an unusual large fungus, the Oak Polypore - ID to be confirmed.

Into the Butterfly Meadow, we saw another type of puffball (left) and Turkeytail growing on another dead stump. The remains of a Ganoderma resinaceum were seen nearby. Also in the Butterfly Meadow, we encountered Glistening Inkcaps and a Penny Bun that had been partially eaten. There was lastly another fine Fly Agaric to be seen before dropping to the Lower Road. Walking a little way, we then moved up onto the grassy slope where there were large numbers of waxcaps and further on some Sulphur Knights. Our last spot before the rain chased us away were Common Bonnets growing on another piece of dead wood. 

Thanks again to Sylia for leading walk and providing a list (and a lot of pictures) of all the fungi she has seen while researching the walk. 

Putting together a list of what was seen on the walk..., but here is link to photographs of a lot the the fungi seen - with latin names.

Ten Friends waited patiently to be let into the Butterfly Meadow - fenced off in advance of the fireworks. When a spanner was finally located, we set about our second month of cutting back the vegetation. This helps in maintaining and decreasing the fertility of the site - an important step in promoting wild flower growth and discouraging the courser grasses. A good measure of the fact that the site is not too fertile is the lack of nettles which survive in fertile soil.

We made good progress and piled up the grass at the bottom of the meadow. This time of year not many flowers left, we only saw Cat's Ear, Red Clover and Knapweed blossoms.

On the other hand the site was a fungi cornucopia. The classic fungi, fly agaric was seen in some numbers. This is a symbiotic mycorrhizal fungus on birch and conifers although there is little sign of these trees here. Another related fungus seen (similar white spots on top) was blusher. 

Bracket fungi seen included turkey tail, southern bracket, Ganoderma resinaceum. Also seen were common puffballs  (pictured left) - which delighted us by puffing out spores when touched.

Four of us braved the rain to look at the seeds and berries in the Park. We looked at plants which use wind and insect pollination and those that use wind or mammals to distribute their seeds.

At the Gas Hut meeting place we contrasted the samaras of Field Maple (quite straight) and Sycamore (V shaped) before looking at those of the Ash.

Also nearby we looked at the drupes of the Guelder Rose (red) and Dogwood (black). 

Walking along the Lower Path, we stopped to admire some Wild Carrot and Bristly Oxtongue before rounding on some Teasel. This was striking as there were seeds sprouting in the seed heads. (picture left)

There were blackberry and rose hips - both of which can be used by man, mammal and birds. We observed acorns which are often spread by Jays which bury them as a Winter store and don't retrieve them all leaving some to germinate.

Autumn Tree Walk 2019

Not the sunniest of days, but a score of us met up by the BBC Tower to investigate the avenues of the Park and trees that took our fancy. We looked down the South Slope and saw a tall lime rising up then moved to look at some beeches at the entrance to the car parks by the East Court.

The first true avenue was a new one of small leaved limes leading to the Rose Garden. Passing a line of Manna Ashes by the Pavilion Car Park, we saw an odd narrow avenue of purple-leaved plums to the right and London Planes to the left.

Leaving the Boating Lake on the left, Adrian led us down the avenue of old London Planes each side of the road with one playing host to an Elder nestling in a hollow (pictured). At the junction there was quite an old avenue of Common Limes going down to the Alexandra Park Road entrance and a younger one rising up by the old Dry Ski Slope.

The walk passed on to admire the Horse Chestnut Avenue by the Pitch and Putt before the group (after spotting an unusual oak) returned and walked up through a line of (mostly) Horse Chestnuts and passed up through the Rose Garden to end the walk.

There are 4 sessions in the Park in November on Tuesday, 19th, Wednesday, 20th, Tuesday, 26th and Wednesday, 27th November. Meet at 10am. To book or for more information contact David Allen the new BAT East Project Officer, email david.allen@tcv.org.uk or call on Tel: 07917 267 573.