While fellow volunteer Emma and I were walking around the reserve on Saturday we came across a beautiful fungus (see photo). Martin, our Area Manager and leading fungi expert, has just told me that it is a Violet Webcap (Cortinarius violaceus) that is Red Listed as Near Threatened with just 142 records from the British Isles on the main UK fungi database. It grows in deciduous and mixed woods on acid soils. Very exciting to have spotted a rarity. Must let Emma know.
Wealden Reserves Office Manager