Fantastic fungi (From The Northern Echo)

Fantastic fungi

3:18pm Wednesday 7th September 2011 in Darlington Community News By Deborah Jackson

A dramatic walk from Bowlees visitors center to High Force along the banks of the river Tees, is pretty spectacular at this time of the year. Not least if you are interested in fungi hunting!

Several species can be found along the grass verge of the river, in the fields and wood areas. Some are most definitely not to be meddled with as they are poisonous and can cause great harm.

The ranger volunteers are on hand to give advice and information to anyone along route, especially with the identification of gorgeous little alpine plants, some of which have made their home here since the last ice age.

Peeping out from some long thick grass, a red top is exposed and at first glance it looks like a ball that has been thrown away by some errant dog owner, whose charge is unable to retrieve it.

Then, tiny white spots appear on top of the red curve, beyond which lies a stem and more siblings, peeping out. Beloved of childrens’ story books, engrained in the collective visual consciousness, fungi here!

“They are poisonous, said the ranger, adding: “But you are lucky to find them because they hide away, and they are quite rare.” Giving some unfathomable Latin name. One almost expects a fairy to appear!

Listen, the Tees crashes water over low lying rocks creating foam to cover deep black pools. A crescendo of energy falls and cascades to its own rhythm, positively charging the air.

Jagged stone, round boulders, flat and smooth curves worn away by centuries of erosion populate the rivers edge, and scurries of fast water flow adjacent to the main bed, trying to find their own way.

Looking beyond and upwards towards High Force are Juniper ‘bushes’ mooing cows, and the shape of some carrion bird landing on the farmers fence post. To the ground, a dazzling white star shaped flower alights the earth.

And within a short drive of Darlington, is a walk entirely suitable for the whole family. Magic nature autumn as beautiful and as deadly as one can imagine, is waiting to be discovered, right now. Probably best not to touch the fungi though!