Great to discover a small clump of Devil’s Bit Scabious whilst out with the gorgeous and excitable Jake – (description c/o Manchester Dog’s Home).
150 years ago Devils Bit Scabious, Green Winged Orchids, Adders Tongue Ferns, Moschatel etc. were relatively common on the floodplains of the River Mersey around Chorlton and Disbury. However since then the river has been canalised, gravel extracted to allow for the construction of roads with almost all of the resulting pits being filled with household waste and rubble from the slum clearances. The few areas of land that remained were used for treatment of Manchester’s sewage before the effluent was emptied into the River Mersey.
Devil’sBit Scabious |
Michaelmas Daisies |
| Although at the moment only a very small clump it’s reassuring to know how resilient nature can be. | Plenty of Michaelmas Daisies around. Although unlikely to be native to the area the number of bees and hoverflies swarming around the plants really does indicate their value as an early Autumn source of Pollen. |
Russula sp. |
Fairies Bonnets |
| A few fungi found recently at Marbury Country Park, Northwich – another former industrial site. |
Birch Polypore |
| Extremely fresh and particular fine examples of Birch Polypore in the woodlands just off Marbury Lane. (a well known haunt of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker). Apparently the “skin” of the polypores has an anti-bacterial property that in an emergency can be used as a micropore type plaster |
Orange Waxcap |
| Orange Waxcaps in common with most brightly covered mushroom one to avoid eating. |
Jake |
| and from his original advert at Manchester Dogs Home in February 2010:
“Hello, great to meet you! My name’s gorgeous and excitable Jake. I must admit that I am a very popular boy here and I am always smiling! I was brought to Manchester in mid November, so I am now getting very itchy paws for pastures new. With my beautifully soft and colourful coat, I am very fond of a good grooming and I’m a cheeky lad who loves nothing more than releasing my energy by chasing balls and digging for bones. Could you offer a lovable boy like me a warm bed and plenty of affection and cuddles. I love going for brisk walks over the fields too and am now looking for an active family to give me lots of love and kindness. You won’t be disappointed if you come and visit me. I promise will be your best friend forever! Here’s hoping! Love & paws Jake x” |
The yellow toadstools aren’t waxcaps (which usually grow in grassland) but Pluteus chrysophaeus
On other pages: the oysters aren’t Branching Oyster – just a cluster of faded Oysters; one of the Giant Funnels is a large Lactarius. The Sulphur Tuft is actually a Galerina, or Keuhneromyces mutabilis.
Malcolm, thanks for the advice – its a nightmare trying to ID fungi from a book.