Fungi Foray

Yesterday morning we set off on a fungi foray on Hampstead Heath. Andy, the fungi-to-be-with, showed us some of the best places to find mushrooms and other fungus - shady corners with well-drained soil and newly fallen trees.

There wasn't much to be had given the week of dry weather but we returned home with a lovely slimy jew's ear, some oyster mushrooms and a handful of St George's (so-called because they appear around 23rd April).

Amongst the inedible specimens, we found blushing brackets, maze gill brackets and King Arthur's Cakes.

Skene fried up the edible mushrooms with the wild garlic leaves that we had also picked and lots of butter and we had a delicious lunch of conchiglie con funghi - Antonio Carluccio would have been proud of us.