Pencarrow House Grounds, Nr Wadebridge, Cornwall - 7th October 2018

Following a recent spell of rain I took advantage of the very helpful owners of this normally private estate which opens up its gardens until the end of October. Well worth a visit, even better earlier when the cafe is open! I took the western side Holly Walk as this seemed to be the most wooded area on the site although there are several different habitats you could visit, all of which I am sure would produce different fungi. The site is a must visit in November for waxcaps - if you can get in as it's normally closed. Watch out for the occasion charity event that sometimes takes place and the hope that the gardeners haven't bothered to mow the main lawns. I had eight species of waxcap here a few years ago. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was entering a woodland that was predominantly of Horse-Chestnut trees, something not seen a lot these days when all you can expect in woodland these days is Beech, Oak or Hazel. The circular route is helpful and the 'return track' called just that produced a species that has only really been discovered in the UK in the past few years, having seen this for the first time myself two years ago in Cornwall. Even stranger is that it is known from Madagascar and not much anywhere else. How it got to Cornwall and then into Devon of late, still with few records, no-one knows. I have my own ideas that imported tropical flowers brought into exotic gardens in the locality could be something to do with this, knowing also that species are brought in and legally, from South Africa. Great to see Favolaschia calocera, or as you will see, Orange Pored PingPong Bats Fungus! I was also lucky to find a second example being what appeared to be the more mature redder fruiting body.  I also came across Agaricus moelleri or Inky Mushroom, a first for me, in a trooping group in a rare area of grassland in the middle of the woodland, no doubt influenced by the sunshine gap that has allowed this to happen.

Favolaschia calocera or Orange Pored PingPong Bats!
Few records only from Cornwall. Beautiful to see
and heartwarming to find. Also, no ID necessary,
there's nothing else like it!!

Favolaschia calocera in warmer reddish form

Agaricus moelleri or Inky Mushroom

Agaricus moelleri showing bright yellow on bruising

Clitocybe metachroa funnel type species

A little had better days Crepidotus mollis or Peeling Oysterling.

Fairly common but often overlooked Ceriporiopsis gilvescens
or Pink Porecrust. Note the very deep tubes of
this porous resupinate bracket. 

Pleated Inkcap or Parasola plicatilis found at edge of footpath.

Oudemansiella mucida or as sensible people
call it Porcelain Fungus!

Lycoperdon molle or Soft Puffball as I exited the woodland.