In memory of Bryan John Yorke (3rd January 1948 - 28th May 2022).
A hugely knowledgeable but utterly humble man. He loved this area, and enjoyed sharing its natural riches through his informative and delightful blogs.
They will continue to be available, for reference and discovery.
Thank you, Bryan, for your warmth, wisdom, and wit.
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I almost stumbled upon this beautiful fungi whilst walking from the Trig Point to the North direction and shortly after dropping down the escarpment to the lower level. Although when I first found it in 2014 it had 3 balls, but checking it out the following year in 2015 this was down to a single and I have not found any in the following years so far!
The following photo shows it the following year (2015) when just the one appeared which looked very hedgehoggy.
According to Cumbria Biodiversity (5/12/2014) it was last recorded in Cumbria was back in 1997)
I would say that the species is rare in the locality, however by chance I did find a small population on Holme Stinted Pastures which was partially hidden and protected by the multitudes of bracken in the vicinity.
Although I am fairly familiar with most hypericum species, at first I was thrown into confusion with never having seen the species until that day (16th July 2021). I have made notes and will try and do more studies on this next year.
Elfin Saddle fungi (Helvella lacunosa)
22nd November 2021 – Dalton Crags.
A strange looking mushroom I found amongst the leaf litter on the floor beneath a Beech tree in Woodland making up part of Dalton Crags, Burton In Kendal, Cumbria (or old Westmorland). The mushroom was about 6cm tall and of a slate grey colour and so unusual appearance with humps and bumps, yet somehow it had something appealing about it that made you want to check it out more. According to the references it is not that rare, but a first for me. First discovered in 1783 by a Swedish naturalist Adam Afzelius who christened it “Helvella lacunosa” . Helvella means “aromic herb” and lacunosa means “having holes”.
"At first to me, it looked so strange in fact ugly - yet search deeper (look more than once) and you really do see a new found beauty". - The old adage "Never judge a book by its cover"
This was first found beneath the woodland within Dalton Crags (finder: Jo Miller April 2021). A strange sort of plant with no colour as such. It is very rare and the details have been given to County Recorder. The plant lacks chlorophyll so you do not see any colour it is more transparent to a light yellow. The flower spikes are seen nodding, but will become erect when later in fruit.
The early day posture remind me so much of the epipactis orchids eg: the nodding its head in shame! it would never do that, yet! after a while it lifts its head in full glory for all to see it's magnificence.
I missed the Yellow Birds Nest lifting of it's head and it must have been such a special sight by looking here at what we are seeing now...