WFV, Tuesday Oct 21st 2025, Archbishop Holgate Almshouses, Hemsworth

Last year’s visit was so successful we really had to make a return visit.  Five of us left Culture Fusion and after a Low Moor pick up we were up to nine. The weather was dry & cool with sunny interludes.

Our marvellous host Francis was there again to guide us around the grounds & to give his expert advice on the wealth of fungi. I recommend the website of the above organisation if you wish to learn its history.

The lawns were quite wet after a period of rainy weather so most of us wore boots.  He began by telling us that the waxcap assemblage was disappointing this year probably due to the very dry conditions throughout the Spring & Summer. That said we did find at least six species of waxcap. We were somewhat overwhelmed by the number & variety of species. Here is the list I made and to make it more digestible I have sectionalised it.

Small jobbies on the lawns; Drab,Ivory, Frosty & several unidentified Bonnets,Yellow Clubs sp, Apricot Clubs, Ruby (a new one for me), White Spindles, Orange & Collared Mosscaps, Conifer Conecaps , Earpick Fungus, Yellow Fieldcap, Felted Twiglets, Striate Earthstar, Scarlet Caterpillar Clubs

Medium to large size on the lawns or under trees on the lawns; Brittlegills (Russulas): Bloody, Yellowing (this was in bits!), Yellow Swamp, Powder, Green, The Flirt (R vesca),  Milkcaps (lactarius): Saffron, Coconut (lovely smell), Ugly (they really are!), Boletes:  Slippery Jack, Brown Birch, Red-cracking, Bluefoot (Francis cut this to demonstrate the blueing in the stem), Suede,  Waxcaps: Blackening, Oily, Snowy, Butter, Meadow, Golden,  Others:  False Chanterelles, Grey Knight, Lilac Pinkgill, The Blusher, Fly Agarics, Clustered Domecaps, Stinking Dapperling. The large patch of colourful crusts on a fallen trunk are considered to be Yellowing Curtain Crust. Waxcaps: Blackening, Oily, Snowy, Butter, Meadow, Golden

Woodland species = Shaggy Scalycaps, Rooting Shank, White Brain, Blueleg Brownies, Wood Pinkgill, Mycena psedocorticola .

Haresfoot Inkcaps were close to where we had parked the bus.   Lunch was taken on the wooden benches outside the offices & toilets. We shared the benches with a great many Harlequin Ladybirds!

I have no doubt omitted some but not on purpose! Thanks to our driver Julia.

John Gavagan author.