We’ve been out and about exploring fungi across our CRT Farms – and what a find at Bere Marsh Farm! 

We’ve discovered a very rare and delicate fungi, Artomyces pyxidatus, known as crown tipped coral or candelabra coral. 

The unusual fungi was discovered by expert mycologist Andy Knott, of Jurassic Coast Mushrooms, who led our Fungi Foray Walk.  

Known as crown-tipped coral fungus due to the crown-like tips of its branches, it was thought to be extinct in the UK.  

“Our last reliable record of this species, prior to the 20th Century, was in 1886, thanks to a collection made by mycologist Carleton Reale,” said Mr Knott.  

“There has been a dozen or so records since, but it was not until 2021 in Suffolk that Artomyces pyxidatus was officially recorded again and for the first time in the 21st century.   

“There have been a small number of finds around Sussex and Kent in the last months but on iNaturalist, a website I use, the discovery at Bere Marsh Farm is the only find in the UK west of the South Downs. It’s a real treat to have this mushroom fruiting in Dorset.” 

What does the crown tipped coral look like? 

Mr Knott described the fungi as being off white-cream in colour, occasionally with pink tones.   

“It will usually be found growing on decaying hardwoods and occasionally some softwoods,” he said. “Unlike other similar looking ‘Coral’ fungi, these grow on decaying wood, instead of emerging from the ground.”  

Nick Dobbs, our community engagement manager, who organised the fungi foray walk, said he was delighted with the rare fungi find.  

“This just shows that the work we are doing to increase biodiversity and restore habitat at Bere Marsh Farm is working. The CRT is absolutely delighted to have welcomed Andy to host the fungi foray walk and his knowledge is astonishing. We will be welcoming Andy back in 2025 for more fungi foray walks.”  

Lots more fungi to discover on CRT farms

While the crown tipped coral may have stolen the show, we are also enjoying spotting lots of other fungi on all our CRT farms.  

Our conservation officer Ruth Moss recently found eight different species of CHEGD fungi in one of the fields at Turnastone Court in Herefordshire.  

These are a group of fungi used to assess the quality of grasslands and their conservation value. Each letter references a different group displaying different characteristics.

She said: “We found 40 separate records and a total of 165 individual fruiting bodies and I am still carrying out surveys, so this is wonderful to see. 

“We’ve seen lots of waxcaps, which are the ‘H’ in CHEGD, which refers to the genus Hygrocybe to which most waxcaps belong. 

“CHEGD fungi also includes: fairy clubs, earthtongues, pink gills, and crazed caps. These are indicators of unimproved permanent grassland so that means land which hasn’t been ploughed, reseeded, or had artificial fertiliser added for a long time.” 

Ruth says it means the fungal hyphae (thread-like ‘roots’) in the soil have not been disturbed so they can successfully send up fruit (mushrooms) to reproduce most years.  

“The lack of fertiliser means that competitive nutrient-loving grass species haven’t been allowed to dominate and overcrowd the grassland fungi when they fruit, meaning spores can be successfully spread by the wind when the grass is short,” she says. 

Ruth says according to experts, the conservation value of a grassland can be gauged using waxcap species-richness so if four to eight different waxcap species are present on a site this would mean it is classed as being locally important.  

“In one of the fields surveyed at Turnastone this year, there were five different waxcap species and three fairy club species present, placing it within this category of being locally important.” 

What else have we spotted?

We’ve also seen waxcaps, honey fungus and puffballs at Green Farm as well as waxcaps at Pierrepont Farm in Surrey.  

It’s a wonderful time of year to go out exploring and looking for a whole range of fungi- so keep your eyes peeled.  

Why not take part in PlantLife’s Waxcap Watch? It’s a citizen science survey, where anyone can survey a site using an app by recording the different colours of waxcaps and other CHEGD fungi found. For more information, see https://www.plantlife.org.uk/waxcapwatch/