A collection of jewel-like waxcap mushrooms has been recorded in Northumberland National Park, including one never seen before in England.
Waxcaps are fungi of unimproved grassland that is often rich in moss and grazed by cattle or sheep.
They are indicators of an ancient landscape untouched by plough or fertilizer and can be recognised by their array of bright colours of red, pink, white, orange, yellow and green waxy topped caps.
A field near Greenhaugh in the North Tyne Valley parish of Tarset, is where the mushrooms have been found and ranger, Shaun Hackett, is leading the study of them.
"Northumberland National Park is one of the most lightly populated areas of the country and the stock farming way of life hasn't changed for centuries," Shaun HAckett said.
"The farming community of Tarset already has wonderful ancient haymeadows so it is fitting that they also have one of the country's best Waxcap sites.
"This site shows what can be found with the help of farmers and local residents and adds to our understanding of the distribution of these species and their habitats."
When Shaun visited the site he was surprised and delighted to find dozens of these spectacular toadstools throughout the field.
Further searching revealed a number of other rare and uncommon fungi such as The Ballerina and Citrine waxcaps. But things kept getting better when the Blushing waxcap was seen too; a very uncommon species recorded from only a handful of sites in Northern England.
Then a waxcap was spotted that has not yet even been given a common name – Hygrocybe canescens, and this was confirmed as the very first sighting in England.
Northumberland National Park is gradually identifying and mapping the old waxcap grasslands from Hadrian's Wall to the border with Scotland and would be pleased to hear from anyone who thinks they have seen outcrops of these transient fungi.
Autumn and mild wet winters are the best time to spot waxcaps and their vivid colours can be the first indication of a find.
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