With the mild damp weather seeming ideal for finding fungi the group of 18 set off from Freshfield Station, following along the side of the railway line towards the level crossing.
Diverting into the heath the first fungal specimens were found including Laccaria laccata (Common Deceiver), Paxillus involutus (Brown Roll-rim), Lycoperdon perlatum (Common Puffball) and Psathyrella conopilus (Cone Brittle-head). Passing into the mainly Birch woodland more species were located these including Leccinum scabrum (Brown Birch Scaber Stalk), Lactarius torminosus (Woolly Milk-cap), Russula ochroleuca (Yellow-ochre Russule), Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Leather-bracket), Cortinarius paleaceus (Pelargonium Web-cap), and several Mycenas or Bonnets.
Passing through a meadow we saw a carpet of Ornithopus perpusillus (Bird’sfoot) with both fruit and flowers, and Juncus tenuis (Slender Rush).
On the perimeter of Freshfield Dune Heath were some lovely specimens of Amanita muscarina (Fly Agaric), one of A. rubescens (The Blusher), a few Lactarius necator (Ugly Milk-cap) and some Clavulinopsis helvola (Yellow Spindles).
Just inside Freshfield Dune Heath we found many specimens of Suillus luteus (Slippery Jack) and one nice specimen of Heterobasidon annosum (Conifer Base Polypore).
Passing across the railway the route followed down Fisherman’s Path to Old Fisherman’s Path. Along this path we continued to find and identify more fungi including Lactarius deliciosus (Delicious Milk-cap), Rickenella fibula (Orange Navel-cap), Collybia maculata (Spotted Tough-shank), Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (False Chanterelle), Hypholoma fasciculare (Sulphur Tuft), Scleroderma citrinum (Common Earthball), Hygrocybe conica (Blackening Wax-cap), Piptoporous betulinus (Birch Polypore), Nectria cinnabarina (Coral Spot Fungus), Stropharia aeruginosa Verdigris agaric) and, Agaricus sylviola (Wood Mushroom). Also studied were several Russulas found under conifers, a Marasimus (Mummy-cap), a Clitocybe (Funnel-cap) and a Pholiota (Scale-head).
Coming over the dunes to briefly glimpse the tide we turned back up Fisherman’s Path and completed the foray with a fine display of Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Ink-cap) and Geastrum triplex (Collard Earthstar).
The foray was a nice pooling of brains and I would like to thank in particular Keith Watson and Peter Gateley for help in identification. Any mistakes are mine.
Maria Knowles

Suillus luteus	Russula sp.	Crepidotus sp.	Amanita muscarina	Geastrum triplex	Coprinus comatus