Pond #3 - under construction

The first pond was not designed as well as it could have been so is a bit unsightly and inefficient (although the wildlife don't seem to mind that much). However the many sharp hooved and clawed animals visiting have torn the strong lining and so the pond no longer holds the water it did originally. I am constructing another pond in the same field and again converting an area damaged by construction of a Quad Bike feature by the previous owners. This time I am using Bentonite to create an impermeable membrane although the expert doing the bulk of the work is strongly suggesting that a stone layer sealed by a form of concrete is a must. The photo shows the pond in construction. Pond #2 is a small rigid lined pond intercepting our spring that flows when it rains. I think it is mainly favoured by flies rather than any higher form of aquatic animal.

New Species - Phaeographis smithii

My Lichen course on Saturday produced some new species for The Beeches based on the Hawthorn twigs I took along. Perhaps the pick of them (based on the interest of the tutor) is Phaeographis smithii. There is a similar species and once my Lichen guide arrives I'll hopefully be able to tell the difference myself.

Lots of new Fungi Species

Now I have the list through from the Gwent Fungus Group foray I am delighted to see a raft of new species for The Beeches list. These are in addition to those I saw on the day and have already commented on. I would add that the Lepiota ignivolvata identified by me has been confirmed by the County Recorder and it turns out to be the first Gwent or South Wales record. On the list are the following: Stereum hirsutum - Golden Crust Russula ochroleuca - Ochre Brittlegill Tricholoma stiparophyllum - Chemical Knight Tricholoma ustale - Burnt Knight Hebeloma sacchariolens - Sweet Poison Pie Hypoxylon fuscum - Hazel Woundwort Psathyrella conopilus - Conical Brittlestem Rhodocollybia butyracea - Buttercap Rhytisma acerinum - Tar Spot This site has a serious fungi list.

New Species - Ramalina farinacea - Shaggy Strap Lichen

This piece of Hawthorn twig just keeps giving. I am happy with the id of this third Lichen species as it has these distinctive 'sorella' or little disks on its thin branches.

New Species - Evernia prunastri - Oakmoss

Another lichen identified (I think) from the same small Hawthorn twig. The distinctive features on this are the flat grey green forked branches with whiter undersides and it's common and looks just like the photos from Google! I'll return to the Hawthorn twig tomorrow.

New Species - Ramalina fastigiata - Dotted Ribbon Lichen

Now the fungi season is over the search for new species has drawn me to Lichens. One piece of Hawthorn branch seems to have several Lichen species and some Mosses too. The first one I feel confident about is Ramalina fastigiata which has distinctive flattened fruits which are a bit of a giveaway. I took the plunge identifying a few Moss species a while back and now I'll try one or two Lichens until my head hurts.

New Species - Shaggy Parasol

Way past its best but a Parasol on one of the compost heaps was identified as Shaggy Parasol (by the County Recorder so I know it's correct). That takes Parasols to four examples (if you count var Konradii of the Slender Parasol a separate example). We have on site Macrolepiota procera, M. mastoidea, M. mastoidea var konradii and now Chlorophyllum rhacodes (aka Shaggy Parasol.)