March 31st  2026

Spring 2026 NEWSLETTER added.
​Updated March 31st 2026

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​FUNGUS NEWS

Markstakes Mushroom Update - Jonathan V.
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I’ve learnt that after a dry spell a splash of rain, or a deluge, is a great signal to take a look to see what mushrooms might appear from the earth, from under rotting leaves, out of a decaying log, or emerge through an established, living or dead trunk,
 
The current deluge (18 September) excluded, the wet spells over summer have seen the following emerge:
 
Multiple sightings of the common earthball either side of the eastern path travelling south towards the ponds, and sulphur tuft appearing in a long fallen trunk here, and in simple spots around the woods. More surprising was stumbling across a standing dead ash trunk covered in oyster mushrooms - they appeared, matured and withered away in the space of a few weeks. You'd need to be more eagle eyed to spy the tiny, delicate pleated inkcap that can appear, dissolve/deteriorate in a day or two.
 
(Bottom right)        Pleated inkcap  (Parasola plicatilis)
 
(Bottom Left)         Oyster Mushroom  (Pleurotus ostreatus)
 
(Top left)            Common Stump Brittlestem (Psathyrella piluliformis)

(Top right)            Charcoal Burner (Russula cyanoxantha)
 
(Centre left)          Scrambled Egg Slime (Fuligo septica) 
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Heather Glade Oct 2020                                           Crescent Glade Nov 2020                                   Spindle Bush fruits (can you see the spider?)
      Heather Glade May 2020                                        Crescent Glade May 2020                                 Heath Speedwell Veronica officinalis

​Early springtime at Markstakes
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Bluebells April 2025
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Hawthorn blossom April 2025
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Early purple orchid
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OUR WORK

Work continues in our selected areas of conservation and restoration, and we have been very fortunate to have help from volunteer groups including the Brighton Conservation Volunteers and the Burnside Day Centre Burgess Hill and also Mark from the Lost Woods Team . Thank you to them all for their help.

Currently (Winter 2025-6) the team of volunteers is spending some time on The Mire, bringing it back from a heavy covering of Bramble and Willow. This is heavy and slow work and we are glad of the help of Alex, our Ranger, with his strimmer and hedge cutter 
Well done to all our willing volunteers.

​VOLUNTEERING
Please do come along and help. We meet regularly on Monday mornings at 09.30 at the gate in the flint wall in Markstakes Lane, South Chailey. Bring suitable clothing and footwear and a snack for the break. Tools and gloves provided.