Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae)
It’s not always about the obvious or large fungi, these delicate saprophytic fungi have an average of about 5cm across the cap. We spotted these ones on the bank above stream growing on an elder branch but they...
Scouts from the 11th Tonbridge (Paddock Wood) visited the wood last weekend and helped to plant some of the whips, continuing the new hedge line at the western boundary. The scouts also played footgolf, as well as having a fire to cook their lunch on....
Last week saw the central explorers at the woods, it doesn’t seem to matter what age the young people are, you just can’t beat toasting marshmallows and s’mores!
The team have recently purchased some new trowels for our young people to use whilst planting our latest batch of 420 tree whips. These will finish creating a hedgerow on the western boundary and hopefully complete the already started hedge by the pond in the...
Playing with shadows!
Some of the instructors popped into the range last weekend to dust the cobwebs off of their throwing arms, and where the low winter sun came through the trees the angels produced some great shadows.
Would you...
The team have been busy over the last few months, and have completed the construction of a fort at the wood.
This has been built out of timber coppiced from our facility (except for a small amount of structural timber in the tower),...
The team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and best wishes for the new year. Thank you for continuing to use our facility, coming up with different activities , and supporting the blog.
Common Stink horn fungus (Phallus impudicus)
Whilst clearing some brambles and bracken we came across what looked like a large broken open birds egg. But on closer inspection realised it was in fact soft bodied and rooted to the ground. After some...
Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)
They are as their names suggest common throughout the uk, and are ‘found most often in woodlands of all types, the Common Puffball can also occur in grassland. Only occasionally do singletons appear; more often these puffballs are...
Last week saw the 1st Tonbridge Scouts using the wood for some games, a fire and some festive minced pies! Followed by the Low Weald Explorers who also chilled out round a fire. All of the young people were treated to a demonstration of why...
This whips we received this time around will mainly be used to continue the hedge boundaries, and are classed as a harvest mix. The trees will all produce nuts, haws or seeds that the wildlife at the wood can feed on, hopefully providing shelter as...
Xmas has come early at the wood. Many thanks to the Woodland Trust for another 420 tree whips that we can use to continue planting hedging at our facility. Would your group/colony/pack/troop or unit like to bring your young people along to help?
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Yesterday saw young people from across the district taking part in a morning of challenges and activities at the woods. This was part of a selection day for the next world scout jamboree. The scouts and explorers were set a challenge to make a cup...
Dryads Saddle Fungus (Polyporus squamosus)
We spotted this beautiful distinctive mushroom on the entrance track to the woods. Also known as Scaly Polypore or Pheasants Back this is the largest capped mushroom found in the U.K, and can be found throughout the...
Silver leaf (Chondrostereum purpureum)
Whilst walking along the bund our eye was drawn to this purple fungi which stood out against the log it was growing from.
Another saprophytic fungi, growing in deadwood, silver leaf ‘this fungus forms leathery, lilac...
A few weekends ago saw beavers from the Wendigo and Chigwa - 11th Tonbridge (Paddock Wood) colonies at the woods, taking part in a Native American Indian Braves training day. The braves donned war paint and were then split into two groups, half learning some...
Birch Polypore (Piptoporus betulinus)
This white fungi known as the birch polypore, birch bracket, or razor strop, is a common bracket fungus and, as the name suggests, grows almost exclusively on birch trees. The brackets burst out from the bark of the...
Fungi and Mushrooms
As we move into Autumn and Winter the leaves drop, the Spring and Summer flowers fade away and the wood seems very small. However there is still plenty happening at the facility in particular with those species in the...
Common Earthball (scleroderma citrinum)
This is the most widely spread member of the family in the U.K. and is also known as the pigskin poison earthball.
‘This very common mushroom appears to be responsible for the most mushroom poisonings each...
