A dry, still, November Saturday morning saw 15 enthusiastic people come together at St Mary’s Old Church. They had come from as far away as Chelmsford to enjoy our now annual guided ‘fungi hunt’ walk. This year they were led by one who set their level of expectations by confirming that as there are over 15,000 species of fungi in the UK, he had no intention of being dogmatic in any identifications. He was working on the principal that anything found, if eaten, would cause severe illness or even death! (You’re not getting the writer into a Coroner’s Court.)
First Finds
So, on that basis we started in the Church graveyard where we found numerous Waxcaps (probably Golden Waxcaps).
Join the Friends of Hillhouse Wood to Hunt for Fungi
Wrinkled Peach Fungi seen last year
The Friends will be going on a “fungus hunt” to seek out elusive fungi next Saturday 16th. They will aim to find a variety of mushrooms and toadstools in and around the wood, and explain something of their fascinating life cycles and why fungi are essential for a healthy woodland. They will also keep an eye out for visiting winter birds.
Nearly 20 hunters scoured the woods, hedgerows and fields last year and were rewarded with some stunning finds. You can see the report, including a video slideshow of their finds, here.
The walk will start at the Old Church, leaving at 10am on Saturday 16th November. The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. You should wear strong boots or wellies, as you may encounter wet conditions underfoot !
Read on for a report from the last guided walk on 28th September.
Autumn Fruits Walk 2024 did better with flowers! – Steve Hallam Reports
Nearly 50 Species!
Eight of us scoured Hillhouse Wood and surrounding fields for evidence of nature’s bounty. We were rewarded by finding nearly fifty species of plants showing fruits or flowers. However, I believe that this walk is arguably mis-named, in that we usually see more flowers than fruits. This proved to be the case again this year.
If not, let Steve Hallam help you! Steve will lead the guided autumn fruits walk 2024 to seek out berries, soft fruit, nuts and seeds, that are now out in abundance. He will explain their folklore and advise you which ones should not be eaten (and what will happen to you if you do!) You should expect to see around 20 types of berries, fruits and nuts.
The Dawn Chorus 2024 walk , which is taking place on Saturday 18th May, will be led by Steve Hallam. Organised by the Friends of Hillhouse Wood, this walk affords the opportunity to see Nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers. Steve says:
If you haven’t tried this you’ll find it a rewarding and delightful experience at a very special time for the wood’s varied birdlife.
It will mean an early start, meeting at the Old Church at 3:45 am (weather permitting). You are should bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch.
This walk follows on from the recent Spring Flowers Walk.
Report of the 2024 Spring flowers walk
Wouldn’t life be boring without some variation and unpredictability? You can rely on the Hillhouse Wood guided walks to provide this – even the ones that are supposed to be the same, such as the Spring flowers walk. This year’s walk was no exception, both positively and less so.
The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Wood is the Spring Flower Walk
Following the successful Winter Bird Walk in March (see report below), the next Guided Walk is the annual Spring Flower Walk on Saturday 27th April. Steve Hallam will lead the walk in and near Hillhouse Wood. Previously called the Bluebell Walk, it has become difficult to pick the optimum ‘bluebell’ date for the walk although there will always be plenty of Spring Flowers to see. The walk will start at the Old Church at 2pm.
Other upcoming Friends of Hillhouse Wood activities are:
Dawn Chorus Guided Walk on Saturday 18th May, and
Stall at the Village Fete on Saturday 6th July.
Winter Birds – Steve Hallam Reports
Of all the guided walks that I lead, the winter bird walk is the most unpredictable. The weather can be variable and off-putting, whilst at this time of year the birds move around looking for food. So, you can be never sure which species you will encounter and whether you will be able see or hear them through the driving rain or howling gale.
The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Wood is a Winter Bird Walk
Following the successful Fungus Foray in November (see report and video below) the next Guided Walk is the annual Winter Bird Walk on Saturday 2nd March.
Steve Hallam will lead the winter bird walk in and near Hillhouse Wood, offering a chance to see resident woodland and meadow species and some winter visitors.
Skylark seen in 2022
Great Spotted Woodpecker Seen in 2022
The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. Strong boots or wellies should be worn, as we may encounter wet conditions underfoot! To join the walk meet at the Old Church ready to leave at 10 am.
The first Fungus Foray for several years took place on 25th November on a crisp, bright ‘n breezy morning. Seventeen took part, hunting down fungi ranging from bellcaps, measuring perhaps a couple of millimetres across their caps, to these birch polypores which are up to 20cm across. They feature in an Alpine tale of a bronze age killing. Among the deceased’s possessions were strips of the very same fungus we were observing 5,000 years later, demonstrating the value he placed upon it. It exposes things which our modern educated minds have largely forgotten, things like:
The Friends invite both members and non-members to attend on Wednesday 13th December in the John Lampon Hall at Orpen Hall. Refreshments will be served from 7 pm with the meeting opening at 7:30 pm.
Jonathan Jukes, Woodland trust Officer, will give a talk after the formal business has concluded.
Formal Agenda
The Friends of Hillhouse Wood
29th Annual General Meeting to be held in the John Lampon Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13th December 2023.
The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Woods is a Fungus Hunt
Following last months successful Autumn Fruits walk (report below), is the first Fungus Hunt for several years on 25th November.
Ian Rowing will lead the “fungus hunt” to seek out these elusive fungi. He will aim, with the help of those with him, to find a variety of mushrooms and toadstools in and around the wood, and explain something of their fascinating life cycles and why fungi are essential for a healthy woodland. We will also keep an eye out for visiting winter birds.
The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. Strong boots or wellies should be worn, as we may encounter wet conditions underfoot! To join the walk meet at the Old Church ready to leave at 10 am.
Steve Hallam will lead a guided walk at Hillhouse Wood on Saturday 23rd September to seek out autumn fruits. Join him and you can expect to learn about local berries, soft fruits, nuts & seeds. He will let you know which ones to eat, and which ones you definitely need to leave alone. You will also hear the folklore associated with them. You can reasonably expect to see around 20 different varieties.
Previous years have revealed a pleasing quantity of late flowers as well. On one recent Autumn Fruits walk, walkers saw hundreds of:
Once again, Steve Hallam led a successful Dawn Chorus walk through Hillhouse Wood on 6th May. This year it was one of 19 bird walks taking place in Essex over the Coronation weekend.
Steve Hallam reports:
Well, it looks as if I must have done the odd good thing in a previous life. Despite the distinctly dodgy weekend weather forecast, we had a lovely morning for our 2023 Dawn Chorus walk. Not that we could see this of course, at 03.45, but at least we knew we’d be staying dry. A nice number of 14 people also turned out, despite the distraction of a certain Royal event later that morning. Also different this year was that we had folded the walk into the programme of The Big County Birdwatch, organised by the Essex Birdwatching Society. This had been moved to take place in Spring, rather than Autumn. It was pleasing to welcome EBWS people to the walk.
