First record of rare slime mould at Castle Eden Dene NNR
31 January 2012
One of Britain’s rarest ‘slime moulds’ has been identified at the Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Co Durham and the discovery is thought to be a first for North East England.
Despite their unprepossessing name, slime moulds are remarkable organisms with characteristics of both animals and plants. The one discovered at the Dene, is only known by its scientific name Badhamia foliicola. It was spotted by a member of the public during a special ‘Fungus Foray’ guided walk organised by Natural England last October.
Far from being mouldy, Badhamia foliicola is unexpectedly eye-catching, and the colourful reproductive blooms found at Castle Eden Dene resembled tiny, yellow jelly beans.
Initially identified as a more common type of fungus it has now been confirmed by Tom Kirby of the North East Fungus Study Group as the rare species, Badhamia foliicola. The Association of British Fungus Groups only knows of 24 records of this species in the UK since 1965, with no sightings from North East England. Before last autumn’s discovery in Durham, the most recent record for the species was from Kent in 2006.
Joe Davies of Natural England’s Castle Eden Dene NNR, said: “The identification of Badhamia foliicola at Castle Eden Dene is an unexpected new record for Castle Eden Dene NNR and an exciting addition to the biodiversity of the site. The discovery underlines the Dene’s role as a natural treasure house for a wealth of wildlife, which ranges from the tiniest fungi to huge and ancient yew trees.”
For most of their lifespan slime moulds are amoeba-like, living in dark and humid habitats and serving a vital role in the countryside by incorporating and digesting algae and bacteria. In some conditions, slime moulds switch to a completely different form and their colourful reproductive bodies (or sporangia) appear on the surface of rotten wood, plant debris or earth and this is what a sharp-eyed visitor spotted at Castle Eden Dene.
Castle Eden Dene is well known for its exceptional variety of fungi, with as many as 50 different species typically found on a ‘Fungus Foray’. The next Foray will be held on Sunday 16 September 2012.
Joe added: “A programme of events is held throughout the year to give visitors the opportunity to discover more about the Dene, its history and wildlife. Keep an eye on the website for details of the events planned for 2012 - who knows what we might discover this year!”
ends
Additional notes
The slime mould, Badhamia foliicola, is named after the Rev. Dr. Charles David Badham (1805-1857) a writer and physician, who studied insects and fungi. He seems to have become interested in fungi as a result of visiting fungus markets in Italy. At the time, eating wild fungi was considered an eccentric and dangerous pastime in England and Badham’s book Treatise on the esculent funguses of England published in 1847 attracted popular, if curious, interest.
The fruiting bodies of fungi normally appear in autumn, but at least one species can sometimes be seen at Castle Eden Dene in spring – the scarlet elf cup, which can be found on decaying wood under hazel bushes
Castle Eden Dene is the largest area of semi-natural woodland in north-east England - the tangled landscape is a survivor of the wildwood that once covered most of Britain. The Saxons called this area ‘Yoden’ (i.e Yew Dene) which eventually became ‘Eden’. The site is managed by Natural England in partnership with Peterlee Town Council and Durham County Council and is one of 224 National Nature Reserves in England, covering more than 94,400 hectares.
About Natural England
Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.
We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and advising on their conservation.
We run England’s Environmental Stewardship farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.
