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Trees woods and wildlife
Fungi and lichens
A dazzling array of shapes, sizes and colours. Find out about fungi and lichens, from ancient taboos to magic and medicine.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Porcelain fungus
A glistening white, translucent beauty which fights off its rivals with its own fungicide. It is associated with beech trees and is edible – but only once the off-putting mucus is washed off.
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Blog
Bracket fungi identification: 10 common UK species for beginners
Bracket fungi, also known as shelf or polypore fungi, grow on both dead and living trees. Here we list some of the UK's more common and easily distinguished types to get to grips with.
Amy Lewis • 21 Oct 2021
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Journal
Wood Wise – fabulous fungi
The autumn 2015 issue of Wood Wise explores the fascinating world of fungi, their essential role in woodland and their complex relationship with trees.
PDF (1.58 MB)
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Blog
7 funny fungi names to help mushroom identification
The UK's 15,000 different fungi have a rich collection of fascinating, descriptive and hilarious names. Let’s take a look at some of the more eyebrow-raising.
Charlotte Varela • 06 Jan 2023
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Trees woods and wildlife
Temperate rainforest
Also known as Atlantic or Celtic rainforest, this special habitat is incredibly rare. Its lush conditions are perfect for scarce plants, lichens and fungi, as well as a number of unusual animals.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Deadwood
Dead and decaying wood is one of any woodland's most important microhabitats. Learn more about why we need more of it, as well as the rare and endangered beetles, colourful fungi and other threatened wildlife that relies on it.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Yellow brain
A frilly sign of a witch’s curse, yellow brain is a parasitic jelly fungus that looks a little like a brain and feeds on fungi that feed on dead wood.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Woodland wildlife
The UK's native woods and trees support a great diversity of living organisms. Our species guides explore the wildlife that depends on woodland, from plants and fungi to mammals, birds, bees and beetles.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Stinkhorn
Pungent and a little indecent, some Victorians were so embarrassed by these fungi that they would attack them with cudgels lest any impressionable young ladies might see them.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Beechwood sickener
Toxic, brittle, red-capped. Beechwood sickener is only found in beech woodland and help beech trees take up nutrients from the soil.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Bank vole
Stout but speedy, the bank vole skitters around woodland and dense vegetation looking for blackberries, nuts and fungi. It uses its large ears to listen out for its many predators, such as the fox and kestrel.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Oak trees and wildlife
Our fantastic oaks support more life than any other UK native tree. Discover which species live and feed on oak, from foxes and fungi to bats and beetles.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Candlesnuff fungus
Pallid, petite, a tumour-fighter. Candlesnuff fungi may be small but they are a medical force to be reckoned with.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Oak bracket
Though it oozes a honey-like liquid, the oak bracket has a few less tantalising names. It lives off the heartwood of living trees as well as on deadwood. Also known as weeping conk and warted oak polypore, they belong to a group called butt rot fungi.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Phytophthora austrocedri
Phytophthora austrocedri is a pathogen that infects and kills native juniper trees. Junipers are one of our rarest native trees and an attack from this fungi-like species is a devastating blow to some of the UK’s populations.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Chanterelle
Prized ingredient. Forager’s favourite. Succulent and delicate in flavour, chanterelle is used by chefs the world over.
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Blog
First signs of autumn
Discover when autumn starts and the signs of the season – look for leaves changing colour, autumn fruits and seeds, migrating birds, ivy flowering and incredible fungi.
Danielle Wesley • 31 Aug 2019
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Trees woods and wildlife
Deathcap
Silent assassin and killer of kings. The deathcap has been used as a murder weapon for millennia.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Balmacaan
Lewiston Drumnadrochit
33.51 ha (82.80 acres)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Barnacle lichen
Looking like little barnacles growing on tree trunks, get to know barnacle lichen which you'll find on the bark of living trees in ancient wood.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Portmoak Moss
Scotlandwell
43.59 ha (107.71 acres)
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Blog
Types of mushroom in the UK: common identification guide
Mushrooms (or toadstools) is a term given to the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies that certain fungi produce. Here are nine common mushrooms that you may come across.
Helen Keating • 31 Aug 2017
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Trees woods and wildlife
Charcoal burner
Crumbly, tasty and ruddy, the charcoal burner is a favourite with chefs.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Lineover Wood
Dowdeswell
49.97 ha (123.48 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Crinan Wood
Crinan
35.00 ha (86.49 acres)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Collared earthstar
The star of the show in broadleaf woodland, this charming fungus would look at home at the bottom of the sea..
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Trees woods and wildlife
King Alfred’s cakes
Tiny fire-lighters with an embarrassing story, King Alfred’s cakes are named after the king’s poor baking skills.
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Woodland Trust Wood
Wormley Wood & Nut Wood
Hoddesdon nr Hertford
142.51 ha (352.14 acres)
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Woodland Trust Wood
Wentwood
Llanvair Discsoed
353.36 ha (873.15 acres)