On Friday 7th November, our Meadow Monitors enjoyed a wonderful opportunity to take part in a grassland fungi foray at Stockings Meadow, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, led by the Fungi County Recorder, Jo Weightman. The event formed part of our extended training programme for the Meadow Monitors, designed to deepen understanding of additional indicators of grassland health, other than vascular plants.

Britain is home to some of the world’s most important waxcap grasslands, yet many of these colourful fungi are becoming increasingly rare. Together with other species, such as entolomas (pinkgills), coral, club and earthtongue groups, they are indicators of rare, species-rich grassland, which have not been agricultural improved by applications of synthetic fertilisers. The mycelium can remain underground for many years, until the conditions are right for the fruiting bodies to emerge and shed their spores.

It has not been a great year for toadstools, and identifying them is never easy, as their shape and colour often change as they grow and mature. We felt very fortunate to have Jo’s knowledge and expertise to guide us. Here are a few key features to take note of:

• Cap – notice its shape and colour variations
• Gills – look at their colour and how they connect to the stem
• Stem – check its thickness, texture, and any markings
• Surface texture – is it slimy, dry, or fibrous?
• Smell – some waxcaps have distinctive scents that can help confirm the species

Some of the species recorded during the survey included: the Scarlet Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea) with its vivid, unmatched red caps, the Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) recognised by its gills which are narrowly attached to the stem, the Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe conica), the Meadow Waxcap (Cuphophyllus pratensis) with decurrent gills, the Parrot Waxcap (Gliophorus psittacinus) noted for its striking green stems and very slimy cap, and the Snowy Waxcap (Cuphophyllus virgineus), one of the most widely recorded waxcaps in the UK. Some species need to be examined under a microscope to confirm their identifying features. The full results of the survey will be available once Jo has had a chance to inspect all the gathered specimens.

There is nothing better than wandering through the countryside, hand lens at the ready, searching for the small details of the natural world quietly showing their beauty before our eyes. What began as a dull, damp, and misty November morning soon transformed as the sun broke through, lighting up the waxcaps like tiny gemstones scattered in the grass — colourful jewels beneath our feet.

For more resources on waxcaps, see Take part in Waxcap Watch 2025 – Plantlife and Where to see waxcaps and grassland fungi | Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. If you would like to learn more about fungi of Herefordshire, check out the Herefordshire Fungus Survey Group – a voluntary organisations which surveys and records fungi species in the county.

This event was provided thanks to donations from our supporters to the Herefordshire Meadows Community fundraiser, and match funding from the Big Give Green Match Fund 2025.