Here at Wiston we’ve been spotting all sorts of wonderfully-named fungi including Lemon Disco (photo 1), Flea’s Ear (photo 2) and Orange Peel fungi (photo 3) in the woods and the bright red Blackening Waxcap (photo 4) on the unimproved grasslands.

We’re gradually building up the species list at Wiston Estate with the help of the brilliant West Weald Fungus Recording Group. We’ve hosted a couple of field visits for their recorders this autumn and we’ve found some real beauties!

The beautiful but poisonous Magpie Inkcap (photo 5) is reminiscent of its namesake’s plumage, and is most often found in deciduous woodland and occasionally in grassland. Along with other members of the inkcap family as it ages the cap melts and drips black goo, hence the name inkcap.

We’ve been delighted to find the rare Zoned Rosette (photo 6) – a frilled fan that grows under oak and beech trees, and the stunning saffron yellow Franchet’s Amanita (photo 7) which is relatively uncommon too.

Wiston’s oak and beech trees have to be the best places to look for fungi, with oaks alone support over 100 different species of fungi. Fungi that cause heart-rot in older trees break down wood, creating essential hollows and deadwood habitats for countless insects, bats, birds, and other wildlife to thrive in.

Chicken of the Woods (photos 8 & 9) is a sunshine yellow and orange tiered bracket fungus often found on oak. The pretty petticoat-like layers can be spotted on other deciduous trees though, and is so-called because it has the texture of chicken when cooked

You can see how the rare Lacquered Bracket (Photo 8) gets its name! Usually found on oak, this bracket fungus looks particularly spectacular after rain with its shiny chestnut finish.

The Beefsteak Fungus looks remarkably like a tongue especially in its early stages (Photo 9), and later on it looks more like a raw steak. It even exudes a red blood-like juice when cut!

Fungi are essential to ecosystems because they break down dead organic matter, recycling vital nutrients back into the soil and supporting plant growth. They also form symbiotic relationships with plants, helping roots absorb water and minerals while enhancing the health and resilience of entire habitats.