Longshaw to Hathersage 15-10-11.
“An Autumnal Fungal Delight’
On a glorious autumn day the latest coach trip of the Rochdale Field Naturalists transported 37 members to the Derbyshire Peak District. Having driven past magnificent views of mist over the River Derwent the group began their walk at The National Trust’s Longshaw Estate – a former hunting lodge of The Dukes of Rutland- and they were rewarded with a fly-past of Field Fares overhead, obviously in search of the first of the autumn berries in the woods nearby.
The four-mile walk, down to the village of Hathersage in the river valley below, commenced in open pasture, where fungi such as Petticoat Mottlegill and Earthy Powdercap could be seen. In Granby Wood further examples of woodland fungi such as Golden Scalycap, Conifer Blueing Bracket and Beefsteak Fungus could be found among the Birch and Conifer trees and especially on the many logs, whilst Nuthatch, Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit were darting overhead.
After lunch alongside the stream, the downhill progress continued through delightful Oak woodland to a café across the railway, for those needing further refreshment (and entertainment from its many notices). Down through open fields to the river a buzzard was heard calling and then spotted overhead. From the path along the River Derwent a pair of Dippers were bobbing and feeding from the small rocks.
The end of the day was spent among further meadowland alongside the river. Here all interests of members were met by small tortoiseshell and small copper butterflies, flowering Harebell, Yarrow and Red Clover, as well as Wood Hedgehog, Smokey Bracket and Giant Polypore Fungus on some large deciduous logs used as convenient seats nearby.
Finally the lovely village of Hathersage was bathed in the last of the day’s sunshine – a fitting end to a wonderful Derbyshire experience!
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| Beefsteak fungus | Golden Scaleycap |
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| Mealy Tooth | Velvet Tooth |
Photographs by Steve Pinnington
