North Devon Coast and Country Chronicle

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Fantastic fungi finds on Devon nature reserves

Two rare and distinctive fungi species have been spotted on Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves in one week. Hazel gloves (Hypocreopsis Rhododendri) fungus can be found in hazel woodland in western Britain. It was recorded for the first time at Devon Wildlife Trust's Vealand Farm nature reserve, near Holsworthy, this week. Likened in appearance to miniature rubber gloves, this fungus sometimes grows on blackthorn, but is primarily found on hazel. Hence the name 'hazel gloves', though in Sweden it is known as 'Trollhand.' The fungus was found by DWT reserves assistant Adam Rhodes, who said: "We were delighted to spot Hazel Gloves on a hedgerow at Vealand Farm as it's really rare - it's classified as 'Near Threatened' by the IUCN." Devon and Cornwall are the most important areas in England for this fungus as it specialises in Atlantic hazel woods. Hazel Gloves was considered by Natural England ten years ago to be possibly on the verge of extinction in the UK, as there had been no records for more than 35 years. It's not the easiest fungus to see, as Adam explained: "Hazel Gloves might be under-recorded as it's usually found up in the tree canopy - so to see it on a hedgerow was a double surprise." The other fungi find was a true exotic, as its original home is on the other side of the world. Clathrus Archeri rejoices in two striking common names: 'Devil's Fingers' and 'Octopus Stinkhorn.' Its vivid colours and tentacle-like shape make it unmistakeable to the eye - while its distinctive rotting odour makes it even more memorable. Like the native common Stinkhorn, this fungus emits a foul scent to attract flies to help spread its spores. Native to Australia and New Zealand, devil's fingers was first recorded in England in Cornwall a century ago. How does a fungus travel round the world? In boxes of military equipment shipped to the south-west from the Antipodes early in the First Word War is one theory. Already recorded once this autumn at DWT Dart Valley nature reserve on Dartmoor, it was seen again by journalist Lucy Purdy at the weekend on a walk from Poundsgate. Lucy described her find: "I spotted this amazing, sea-creature like fungus on Dartmoor, so I read up about it and found the name 'Devil's Fingers'." Also known as 'Octopus Stinkhorn', as the fungus grows it can assume a shape that's even more like a starfish than an octopus. But how prominent was the 'stink' of this stinkhorn? "I can confirm the rotting flesh stench" said Lucy. Mid-December is fairly late in the year for fungi forays but the mild autumn has led to later sightings of some species in 2014. DWT's nature reserves at Vealand Farm and Dart Valley are both open to the public, free of charge, every day of the year.

Clathrus Archeri (Devil's Fingers' and Octopus Stinkhorn.)

Hypocreopsis Rhododendri (Hazel Gloves)

Monday 15 December 2014

Charity wants us all to have a 'wild Christmas'

A local charity is offering people ideas for a wild Christmas with a difference. Leading conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust has developed a series of ideas for 'wild Christmas escapes' and is urging people to spend just a small part of the festive season and get away from the excesses and stresses of this time of year. Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey explained the idea: 'Despite all the merry making Christmas can bring with it a series of challenges to our health and well-being. And if this seems a bit Scrooge-like then which of us can really say that we haven't had a Christmas past in which we've felt trapped by the combination of too much food, too many relatives and too many repeats on the telly?' Steve added: 'We wanted to offer people a chance to escape some of the stresses of Christmas by re-connecting with local nature. It's important not to forget your wild side and this needn't mean consuming more food and drink or spending hours looking at a screen. Instead it means taking a bit of time to get outdoors with the wonderful wildlife and wild places which are local to you. Exploring your wild side provides a great way of re-charging your Christmas spirit.' Devon Wildlife Trust looks after 49 nature reserves around the county including some of Devon's most beautiful landscapes and most wonderful nature, and the charity believes that a visit to anyone of them this Christmas will be time well-spent. Steve Hussey added: 'Wherever you are you in Devon you can feel the positive impact of wildlife. In Exeter you can experience one of nature's great winter spectacles with a visit to the Old Sludge Beds nature reserve to see the huge starling murmurations as birds congregate in their thousands each evening. In Plymouth you can enjoy a walk through woods at Warleigh Point nature reserve to the edge of the Tamar and the estuary's stunning winter wading birds. In North Devon you take a stroll beside the white water of the River Torridge at Halsdon nature reserve near Great Torrington or if feeling more energetic climb the wildest sections of the Coast Path in to Marsland nature reserve near Hartland.' For those looking for Christmas escape ideas Devon Wildlife Trust has set up a series of 5 'Wild Walks' through its nature reserves. Ranging from 3 to 6 miles the walks are another way to escape the sometimes overwhelming world of Christmas. The walks provide a perfect way for families to get out of the house and burn off a few of the Christmas calories. Details of the Trust's Wild Walks can be found at www.devonwildilfetrust.org And if you can't get out to the great outdoors this Christmas period, then the Trust's message is make sure you get nature to visit you. Your garden's birds will welcome the opportunity for an energy boost provided by some of your Christmas leftovers - a bit of crumbled Christmas cake, some bacon fat, an end of cheese left on the bird table will be much appreciated. Steve continued: 'In return for feeding them garden birds will put on a Christmas show the likes of which you won't get from repeats on the telly. Putting just half an hour aside to watch their comings and goings can re-connect you with the wild world outside your kitchen window. Seeing who arrives, watching their behaviour, their squabbles, the jostling for food, the different table manners and eating techniques - it can be just like what goes on around many human Christmas dinner tables, but without the emotional baggage!' To plan your wild Christmas escape visit the charity's website www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Wednesday 10 December 2014

HOZIER’S TAKE ME TO CHURCH ANNOUNCED AS MOST POPULAR SONG OF 2014

Irish star Hozier’s global hit Take Me To Church has been announced as 2014’s most streamed track of the year. This morning Spotify announced the song as their global number 1 most shared song on the service in 2014, and the biggest song in the world at this moment. It follows confirmation that Take Me To Church had already topped their global chart (with over 87 million streams to date), and further cements the young Wicklow musician as the first tangible example of a breakthrough streaming superstar. The track currently sits at 1 on the Shazam worldwide chart. At the turn of this year, the video to Take Me To Church had quickly gone viral, and now sits with over 40 million views on YouTube. It caps a hugely successful, breakthrough year for Andrew Hozier-Byrne, having picked up his first Grammy nomination this month for Song of the Year, and debuting his critically acclaimed eponymous album at number 2 in the US Billboard chart (the second biggest debut album of the year), number 5 in the UK, and enjoying five weeks at number 1 in his native Ireland. To date, Hozier has sold-out all his headline shows across the globe and will headline two nights at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire in January, a little over one year from headlining the 100-capacity Troubadour in Earls Court back in January 2014. The debut album, ‘Hozier’, is out now through Rubyworks/Island Records. Watch Take Me To Church here