Blushing Bracket FungusToday's trip took us to the far flung destination of Roundhay Park, Leeds. Several participants came in their own cars and met up with the minibus for this outing organised by Margaret and Joan. It was lovely to see Margaret on her first BEES day out for several months. Having been pointed in the direction of the visitor centre where we could get maps of the park, and purchase information about various trails, we were left to explore the park as we wished. A group of us chose to follow the ecology trail. The route commenced by skirting the smaller upper lake, and continued on woodland paths passing through the ravine and the castle ruins. Our initial frequent reference to the ecology trail leaflet tailed off and the walk became more of a fungal foray. We found numerous delightful specimens including deer cap, king alfreds cakes, fairys bonnets, dryads saddle, birch polypor, turkey tail, oyster mushrooms and hairy bracket, but the most striking fungi were the blushing brackets. Several branches were strewn on the woodland floor, and the brackets were laid on top of these branches like plates on a table. (See the gallery.) The beefsteak fungus was also quite impressive. The path continued around the large Waterloo lake, where we saw coots, canada geese, tufted duck, great crested grebe and black headed gulls. There was no formal recording of plants or birds. Four species of butterfly were sighted. We stopped for lunch near the waterside cafe. Early cloud was increasingly giving way to sunshine, but there was a definite autumnal feel to the day, and we felt its chill, so we called in to the cafe for a hot drink. After lunch the group became more dispersed, but most of us ventured down to the monet, alhambra and canal gardens. Unfortunately the fountains in the alhambra garden were out of action due to maintenance. Although late in the season, the gardens were still very colourful and there was much to enjoy. Although this park is very familiar, it was still a joy to visit it, and after the minibus departed I took another stroll around both lakes and was rewarded with cracking views of a nuthatch. Even local, familiar places can yield fresh treasures.
Sue