Activity Sheet Download - Fungi Hunt

The dampness of autumn helps many fungi species to thrive, our activity sheet contains 12 species that are most easily found in the UK. How many will you find near you?

Click here to download the free PDF activity sheet

Don't forget to take a magnifying glass with you, so you can take a closer look at what you find.

We've included some more information about each of these species below, including where and when you're most likely to find them, alongside some interesting facts!

Common Inkcap - Coprinopsis Atramentaria

The Common Inkcap is a small grey/grey brown coloured mushroom that grows on buried or decaying wood. They grow in groups and can be up to 17cm tall. It has a cone shaped cap which can be 3-7cm in diameter with a hollow white stem. As the mushroom grows it begins to undergo an 'auto digestion' process. During this the gills (underneath the cap) turn from white to brown and eventually black and begin to 'drip' down the edge, hence the name 'inkcap'!

Where to find it: Look on dead and decaying wood, particularly in mature woodlands after rainfall.

When to find it: From spring to early winter in damp weather.

Fun fact: The dark liquid produced by the Inkcaps was historically used to make writing ink. After collecting the black liquid foragers or scribes would boil it in water alongside a preservative (often cloves) to help it bind to their paper, cloth or parchment.

Fly Agaric - Amanita Mascara

The Fly Agaric is often seen as the 'picture perfect' fairy mushroom! When you initially think of a mushroom, a red toadstool like this may be what you imagine. However whilst it looks appealing, it's important to be aware that this mushroom is toxic. It grows up to 18cm tall, with a cap diameter of 8-20cm. It has a red cap (which can be flat or rounded) often with white markings and a white stem. 

Where to find it: This mushroom likes to grow beneath trees, usually found in woodlands or parks with scattered trees present. Particularly under birch or pine and spruce trees.

When to find it: Usually seen from August to November.

Fun fact: Although this mushroom is toxic to us humans, other creatures can eat them without ill effect, including slugs and red squirrels!

Turkey Tail - Trametes Versicolor

This fungus was named due to its shape being similar to that of a turkey's tail. Turkey Tail is a bracket fungus which means it has no visible stem. It is a small tough fungus that grows in semi circle shaped caps, these caps can range from 4-10cm in width.

Where to find it: Turkey Tail grows on decaying wood, and is commonly found on stumps or dead branches on the floor of woodlands. 

When to find it: Can be found all year round but is most obvious in Autumn.

Fun fact: This fungi has been valued for many years by different cultures for its medicinal properties but also, due to its range of colours, for decorations!

Shaggy Inkcap - Coprinus Comatus

Similar to the Common Inkcap mentioned above, but differing in the 'shaginess' of it's cap! It has the same distinctive auto digestion of its gills which causes black ink to drip down the caps. It typically grows in small scattered groups but less close together than the Common Inkcap. The stem is white and they can grow up to around 30cm tall, the caps are cylindrical in shape and expand as the mushroom grows. 

Where to find it: Shaggy Inkcaps like grassy areas and are commonly found on verges and grassland like meadows and parks.

When to find it: Seen from May to November.

Fun fact:  It is sometimes called 'judges wig' due to the caps fraying and curling as it ages, making it look like a wig!

King Alfred's Cakes - Daldinia Concentrica 

King Alfred's Cakes are a hard round fungi that can last for many years. They are found on dead or decaying wood, and resemble small dark brown or black rounded balls. They are usually a pinkish brown colour when young and grow darker in colour as they age. They grow from around 2-10cm across. 

Where to find it: On dead wood in woodlands.

When to find it: All year round.

Fun fact: Legend has it that whilst King Alfred was fleeing the Vikings, he sought shelter in a small cottage whilst in disguise. The lady of the house asked him to watch a batch of cakes for her, which were cooking over the fire, however he became distracted by his thoughts and let the cakes burn. When she came back the woman was very cross that he had let them burn and she gave him a good telling off, unaware that she was actually telling off the King of England! The fungi were hence named after King Alfred's poor baking skills, as they look like lumps of coal - similar to his cakes!

Common Puffball - Lycoperdon Perlatum

The Common Puffball grows on the ground in a round shape, they're white when young and go browner as they age. Once the Puffball is fully grown a hole appears in the top and when the fungi is knocked (by animals or weather conditions!) spores puff in clouds out of this hole, this helps the fungi to spread in future years. The surface of the Common Puffball is covered in little warts which fall off as the fungi grows.

Where to find it: Found on the ground in woodlands and grassland.

When to find it: Most commonly seen in autumn, but can be found from July to September.

Fun fact: The latin name for this fungi 'Lycoperdon' directly translates to 'wolf's flatulence'!

Sulphur Tuft - Hypholoma Fasciculare

The Sulphur Tuft is a small mushroom that grows in large groups on dead wood, particularly stumps or decaying roots of broad leaf trees. They're a yellowy orange colour which is often darker towards the middle of the cap. The caps usually grow around 2-7cm in diameter.

Where to find it: On dead or dying wood in large groups.

When to find it: Most commonly seen in autumn, from July to December.

Fun fact: Sulphur tufts are one of the species of fungi which are bioluminescent. This means they glow in the dark! They don't glow very brightly, but it can be seen using a UV torch or a camera on a long exposure setting.

Jelly Ear - Auricularia Auricula-judae

A small gelatinous like fungi, the Jelly Ear has a recognisable ear or cup like shape (hence its name!). They are usually reddy brown in colour but can also look more tan in some cases, they have an almost velvet like skin. They grow to around 3-7cm across. This fungi prefers damp or shady conditions and they grow almost exclusively on the bark of elder trees, but are also occasionally found on other types of trees.

Where to find it: On dead or living elder trees.

When to find it: Can be found all year round, but most abundant early in the year (January & February).

Fun fact: Some tales say that the jelly ear fungi are actually Goblins ears, which they use to listen to conversations and happenings in the forest.

Amethyst Deceiver - Laccaria Amethystina

These amazing mushrooms are almost bright purple in colour! The Amethyst Deceiver is a small mushroom that grows in a traditional toadstool shape. It likes to grow in the Autumn among the leaf litter layer in woodlands. The colour is brightest when the mushroom is young and fades as it ages. The stems usually grow up to about 10cm tall and the caps up to 6cm across.

Where to find it: Among fallen leaves on the woodland floor.

When to find it: Commonly seen in autumn, from the end of August onwards.

Fun fact: The Amethyst Deceiver earned it's name because it changes colour as it grows, and although it starts out as a very bright purple or lilac colour, it fades as it ages and can turn almost completely white. This makes it quite tricky to identify older specimens, hence the name 'Deceiver'. 

Candlesnuff Fungus - Xylaria Hypoxylon 

The Candlesnuff is a small fungus that grows up to around 6cm tall. It's name comes from it's candle like shape and the fact that it's black base, grey middle and white tips make it look like a snuffed out candle wick. It grows upwards in a stick like way and can fork or branch out as it grows. 

Where to find it: Typically grows in groups on dead or dying wood.

When to find it: Can be seen all year round. 

Fun fact: Despite it's small size this fungi has some powerful medicinal properties, it has even been shown to fight tumours in humans!

Chicken of the Woods - Laccaria Amethystina 

Chicken of the Woods is a thick bracket fungus that is usually bright orange to yellow in colour, it is soft and crumbly rather than hard like King Alfreds cakes. It is most commonly found on Oak tree trunks but also on chestnut, yew, willow and cherry trees. The top of the fungus has a velvety appearance and the underside has very small pores.

Where to find it: On tree trunks in broadleaf woodland.

When to find it: From late spring through to autumn. 

Fun fact: This fungus is an important habitat for insects, particularly the hairy fungus beetle which exclusively feeds on bracket fungi like Chicken of the Woods.

Yellow Brain Fungus - Tremella Mesenterica 

Another orange fungi! This time similar in texture to that of the jelly ear, it is actually a parasitic fungus, that feeds on other smaller fungi (particularly Pheniophora) which cause wood to rot. It may look like it is feeding on the rotting wood itself, but the Yellow Brain fungus can feed on parts of the Pheniophora fungi that are deep under the surface. It is a vibrant orange colour making it easy to spot and has a soft 'brain like' texture. It likes to grow in damp and shady areas and can often be found in larger numbers after a rainy period. It varies in size from around 2-9cm wide but often grows grouped together.

Where to find it: In woodlands on dead and decaying wood, particularly from Oak and Beech trees.

When to find it: Can be found all year round. 

Fun fact: Sometimes called 'witches butter' folklore states that if you found yellow brain fungus on your doors or gates, it meant that a witch had cursed your household! 

Download our free PDF activity sheet and tick all these fungi off as you find them.

Just scratching the surface...

The 12 common fungi we've mentioned are just a tiny fraction of all the different types of fungi that can be found in the UK, in fact, there are over 4000 species here that are large enough to be seen with the human eye!

Our Woodlands Trees, Flowers & Fungi ID guide features some more species commonly found in UK woodlands. Don't forget to take a magnifying glass on your hunt too - to look at these amazing organisms in more detail!

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