Amanita Muscaria

[richickle]

Hi folks - can you believe that in 32 years I have never seen a fly agaric. Can anyone give me any tips as to finding them please? I know they are normally found under birch but is this the right time to be looking. Specifically does anyone know of any good sites for them near Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Lincoln please ???

Thanks in advance as always - Rich

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by richickle

Hi folks - can you believe that in 32 years I have never seen a fly agaric. Can anyone give me any tips as to finding them please? I know they are normally found under birch but is this the right time to be looking. Specifically does anyone know of any good sites for them near Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Lincoln please ???

Thanks in advance as always - Rich

Hi Rich,
cant help you with Grimsby locations, but now is the right time - they have been about for a month or so - most of my area is more acidic soil here in the pennine moor woods, and we do quite well. I suggest avoiding calcareous places, but also in mixed woodland.
Good luck
Ken

[Naturenutz]

I found some about 2 weeks ago , they were amongst low sparse brambles and indeed under the small amount of birch trees on the woodland edge here near bristol .These are the first i have ever found and i only noticed the birch trees as i was leaving.I think you just need to do as much walking as possible and thats the best chance of stumbling across them.Also looking for birch too.I have never noticed them before in 30 years of country pursuits but i guess you need to have eyes down,not ahead .

[richickle]

thanks folks - we are going to langholme woods tomorrow which is birch and oak woodland on the notts / lincs border. i've found the right habitat so fingers crossed !!! can't wait ...

[thebeard]

birch woodland on the outskirts of lincoln towards saxilby and skellingthorpe very good for a.muscaria. thats where i first became interested in fungi!

[cowshill]

Don't forget a. muscaria also like spruce. There are a lot of them around the spruce plantation where I walk regularly. I find them at the edge of the woods, alongside hard pathways, in disturbed ground, etc. Don't bother spending time in the middle of solid woodland. My (non-expert) understanding is that the mycorrhizal fungi are so happy in uninterrupted woodland that they have no reason to send up fruit bodies to reproduce. But when the growing fungus comes to the end of the roots of its host tree it "decides" things are getting dicey and it's time to fruit!

- Jim

[sidewalkdoctor]

Originally Posted by cowshill

I find them at the edge of the woods, alongside hard pathways, in disturbed ground, etc. Don't bother spending time in the middle of solid woodland.
- Jim

Pretty much my experience too. Although by hard pathways I would mean established paths in wodland rather than tarmac!!! Currently abundant on the IoW.Along with most of the other Amanitas.

[richickle]

Thanks everyone - my little boy was poorly last night so i didn't make it out looking today. Off on hols next weekend so will not be able to go on another foray untilthe weekend after i get back - which coincidentally is Clumber! Hopefully we can find some there ...

[FungiJus]

Originally Posted by richickle

Thanks everyone - my little boy was poorly last night so i didn't make it out looking today. Off on hols next weekend so will not be able to go on another foray untilthe weekend after i get back - which coincidentally is Clumber! Hopefully we can find some there ...

I would be amazed if we don't get it at Clumber Rich - it was there last year, despite the exceptionally dry conditions - this year has been much wetter, and there's more forecast during the week too.
Not that it's relevant to your location, but there are a lot of fresh ones pushing up here in MK!

Have a good break.
J.