Fruits and nuts Credit: Bev Starkings Forest fungi Credit: Bev Starkings
Triggered by autumn rains, fungi can suddenly appear out of nowhere. An astounding 1,218 different species of fungi have been recorded at Westonbirt – the highest number in the West of England! Many of these fascinating fungi have equally enchanting names.
You’ll quickly discover a huge range of these odd organisms at Westonbirt. From the amethyst deceiver, which you’ll most likely spot under the leaf liter surrounding a beech tree. To the shaggy parasol, which you’ll have seen growing in magical fairy rings, to dead man’s fingers, which eerily resemble roting fingers reaching up out of the ground!
Where Sheltered woodland areas When Most abundant in October Time Any time of day
Where have the garden birds gone?
With copious quantities of wild food in autumn, you may find that your bird feeder is going untouched!
Preferring natural seeds and berries, you’re likely beter off leaving spoting your birds at Westonbirt until later in the year, when less plentiful food supplies may see them returning to your garden feeder.
Share your favourite autumn experiences at Westonbirt. Email us at
magazine@fowa.org.uk
WESTONBIRT AUTUMN 2017 41
Autumn colour isn’t just about the leaves! A whole compendium of colours can be spoted in the beautiful berries across the arboretum. Many trees produce berries so that birds and other animals will gulp them down and later distribute the seeds.
Westonbirt provides all sorts of tasty treats for visiting wildlife. In the autumn, fruits ripen for the taking. Many members of the rose family produce berries that are particularly popular with birds. The rowan or mountain ash yields wonderful scarlet fruits that are a rich source of autumn food for caterpillars of the apple fruit moth, as well as a huge variety of birds including the blackbird and song thrush. The common hawthorn’s deep red berries are rich in antioxidants and popular with small mammals and migratory birds like redwings.
Nuts are also aplenty in the autumn. Horse chestnut conkers are a firm favourite with deer and other mammals. There are also a number of walnut trees at Westonbirt, but you’ll have to be very quick to spot a walnut before the squirrels get to them!
Where All over the arboretum
When Both berries and nuts can be seen in copious quantities by September
Time Any time of day, spot them before they’re gobbled by wildlife!
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