Whipsnade Zoo, Beds 11th October 2017

I attended a specially arranged foray through this zoo, which I have visited many times before as a youngster. The Beds Fungus Survey Group and along with Bucks Fungus Group had been allowed or even asked to survey the zoo as this had never been achieved before in a scientific manner to record whatever was found on site. Led by a Fellow of the Zoo and distinguished mycologist Alan Outen, around 20 of us started at the Owl Woods along with other areas of the zoo normally closed to the public. On the way into the zoo out in the car park a Lactarius species controversus was found by the only tree in the car park, but I am sure this would be counted, as quite unusual anywhere. I got off to a excellent start when foraging at an area that had't seen much activity at all and came across a Clitocybe species that would be the 1st for Beds!! Clitocybe houghtonii. Identified by Alan later. Overall we gathered around over 170 species, and amazing count considering we were finding all the best places as we went along. A detour into the Butterfly House produced some very unusual species such as Hohenbuehelia petaloides as well as and even better the greenhouse specialty Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, or Plantpot Dapperling. Some of the best of the bunch I found follows:

Fistulina hepatica - Beefsteak Fungus (immature)

Mycena pelianthina - Blackedge Bonnet

Clitocybe houghtonii - 1st for Beds!!

Clitocybe houghtonii - 1st for Beds!!

Polyporus squamosus - Dryad's Saddle

Laxitextum bicolor

Pholiota spumosa

Scleroderma verrucosum - Scaly Earthball

Hohenbuehelia petaloides - (uncommon)

Leucocoprinus birnbaumii - Plantpot Dapperling

Clitopilus prunulus - The Miller