Winter toadstools

Throughout Filnore Woods we maintain 20 marker posts to help you find your way round the self-guided trail.  

Near the leaning Silver Maple is number 16 leading you between two plane trees.

Not far away is another tree which has unfortunately suffered some bark damage.  

A broken decayed stem had to be sawn off.  

If you look closely at the sawn off stump you can make out some toadstools of the fungus called Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes).

Here are some photos of a more spectacular specimen I saw in Leigh Woods last week.  

The Latin name means 'little flames with velvet feet'.  

 Each stalk is covered in dark brown velvet at the base.

Velvet Shank is one of the few fungi to survive winter's cold.