For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Sunday 17 March 2024

Haywards Heath u3a Eco-friendly group meeting

 

Hairy-footed flower bee male

Haywards Heath eco-friendly living meeting

Notes for Monday 8th April 2024; Wildlife gardening

At our u3a eco-friendly living meeting prior study ensures a more productive meeting of minds on the day. 

At https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife is a wonderful analysis, which does not need repeating at our meeting.  The meeting agenda will be an introduction of eleven minutes (please ensure I set a timer!); twelve minutes of open discussion and then the garden tour after which you can decide how the garden matches an ideal wildlife garden.  If you would like to take away some plants, e.g. ox-eye daisies please bring some bags and we can dig some up.  Some “weeds” will be left for you in my vegetable beds.

The tour will start with early flowering plants, Daphne bholua which is fabulous for hibernating bumblebee queens, butterflies and other insects e.g. Hairy-footed flower bee. For your information (and for my check list) we will hopefully see many of the species below and some that benefit from them.  The links give detailed info’, and many photos from my garden like this one.

Wildlife

Creatures supported

Winter jasmine

 

Ramsons

Tawney mining bee

Mint

Mint moth

Thyme

 

Forget me not

Bee fly  Check this link!

Primula

,,

Amelanchia Canadensis

Food for numerous birds

Osmanthus burkwoodii

Planted for the scent.

Vibernum

,,

Styrax japonicus

Bumblebees and jumping spider

Azelia

A Rhododendron. 

Lavender

Goldfinches and bees

Red campion

 

Shamrock

 

Devil’s bit scabious

All bees

Snakes head Fritillary

Bumblebees

Lady’ smock, Cuckoo flower

Orange tip butterfly Pls see link

Garlic mustard

https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=orange+tip

Ground ivy

Please see this link

Ivy

Holly Blue butterfly and lots more

Wild strawberry

Pigeon, mammals, slugs etc.

Barren strawberry

insects

Foxgloves

Bumblebees

Violets

Insects and Bullfinches

Rosemary

All bees

Buddleia

Butterflies, bees

Cuckoo and other bees

Please see https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=bees+my+garden

Brambles

 

Fox cubs and mum

Cute cubs in the link

https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=fox  Check this link

Badger

 

 Native orchids

Common-spotted; Common twayblade; Southern marsh; Fragrant.

Cornflowers

Bees and Goldfinches

Yellow rattle

Bees

Scabious

 

Ragwort

 

Honeysuckle

 

Enchanters nightshade & Willowherb

Elephant Hawk moth

Spiders

Numerous species

Finally, a few more pictures at http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page19.html

Guests are usually welcomed at our meetings. This one is fully subscribed though.

Many more u3a special interest group details can be seen at https://www.haywardsheathu3a.org.uk/


Sunday 15 October 2023

u3a Fungus stroll 14 October 2023


It is amazing just how many specimens one misses if alone.  However, with ten pairs of eyes many more species are found.  And this was the case on Saturday 14th October with Haywards Heath u3a Nature walks group.  Especially observant was Deborah for finding fungi that I had missed.  Hilary’s knowledge and enthusiasm was also a great asset.  She differentiated a desiccated cow pat from a dried bracket fungus by the sniff test:  it was a bracket!  Many links are included in this report should you wish to discover more about these vital organisms.

All fungi can be eaten once.  Do NOT assume that any of my suggested identifications are correct!

The churchyard was disappointing.  The Russula fungi we found last year under the solitary pine were not evident.  However, we did marvel at the lichen growing on the gravestones and on a wooden bench.  See also https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/what-is-lichen-seven-types-of-lichen-found-on-trees/

A very old oak had an Artist’s Bracket fungus in the medieval meadows.  A peculiarity of this fungus is its use as a drawing medium for artists.  When the fresh white pore surface is scratched, dark brown tissue under the pores is revealed.  The shading becomes permanent once the fungus is dried. This is what gives Ganoderma applanatum its common name.  With a marlin spike, I engraved a letter G in it to prove the point.

The wax caps we hoped to find were elusive.

The woodland was more rewarding with Amethys deceiver  among the leaf litter, which is similar in appearance to the poisonous Lilac fibre cap.

A beautiful Porcelain fungus was found on a fallen dead beech branch.  This fungus led to the creation of a safe and effective group of agricultural fungicides called 'the strobilurins', which have improved yields of wheat and fruit crops by protecting them from powdery mildew attacks.  Ref. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/porcelain-fungus/

Fungi are often host specific.  A birch grove sported Fly agaric and round or hoof-shaped Birch polypore mushrooms.

Panther cap fungi are uncommon.  These were the first I had seen in this wood.  Ref: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/48418-Amanita-pantherina

The turkey tail fungi grow throughout the year on trees and dead wood.

We saw a solitary Bolete, which was surprising and intriguing crust fungi.

Deborah spotted a puff ball as we left the wood.

My thanks to Ruth, Hilary, Gloria, Geraldine, Anne, Penny, Stella, Deborah and Sue for making this walk such a joy.  I’m  sorry to those who were turned away.  It is however impractical to have more than ten on such walks.











Is it a fungus or a dried out cow pat?  Only one way to find out!  Sniff, sniff... A fungus declares Hilary!
















Sunday 8 October 2023

Fungi nature stroll, Saturday 14th October 2023 at 11:10 hr






Fungi fruiting bodies erupt overnight at this time of year.  Their diversity is amazing.  See https://out.ac/IEeozV for many pictures from last year’s u3a fungi walk including the exquisite “Lilac bonnet fungus” and "Porcelain fungus" plus the route.

The walk will include three habitats on a modular stroll with Haywards Heath u3a nature walks group on Saturday 14th October 2023 at 11:10 hr (connecting with the 271 bus from Haywards Heath) from Cuckfield Broad Street car park where a parking disk is needed.

Part one: a mile without stiles looks beneath a pine tree in the churchyard and then nearby meadows, which date from medieval times.  These meadows are rare habitats and produce waxcap fungi.  Please see https://www.plantlife.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Waxcaps_GrasslandFungiGuideManagement.pdf for expert information on waxcaps.  Please note there is a family of Galloway cattle in these fields including a docile bull, consequently NO dogs are allowed on this walk.

Part two: continues a further mile with two stiles into New England Wood nature reserve – a deciduous woodland where best practice is to NOT remove any fungi.  https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/2009/10/fungal-foray.html shows some species in this wood from 2009.  And more recently at https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/2020/11/fungi-in-west-sussex-ancient-meadow-and.html

Numbers are limited and it is essential to register at hhu3anaturewalks@gmail.com and await confirmation if you wish to come.  No foraging in these habitats please.  And please do NOT turn up without a confirmed place.

With thanks and best regards

Peter 

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