Mushroom species “new to science” discovered in City Corporation owned green space
A species of mushroom, completely new to science, has been discovered in one of the City of London Corporation’s open spaces in Buckinghamshire. Burnham Beeches, a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1951, has been a National Nature Reserve since 1993, and was designated a Special Area of Conservation in 2005.
The mushroom was found on a damp piece of rotting pine at the site by photographer and Bucks Fungus Group member Barry Webb in August 2021. Now, following a few years of research, it has received a formal name, Hydropus inopinatus. This has shed a light on the “rich biodiversity” of fungi in the woodlands.
“After years of research and double-checking, we felt we were finally in a position to publish a paper about our exciting discovery,” Penny Cullington from the Bucks Fungus Group said. “Whilst this little mushroom is basically quite similar to other small white species, there are significant differences – both microscopic and molecular – which make it unique. Inopinatus literally means ‘a surprise’, which seemed to us an apt name for this tiny and apparently rare mushroom, first discovered by Barry, and which seems to be thriving at Burnham Beeches.”
Standing less than 15mm high, the tiny white mushroom species feeds on the dead wood that it grows on. This accelerates the natural decomposition process, returning the rich nutrients back to the soil, benefiting other organisms and enhancing the biodiversity of the “ancient landscape.”
This news comes as the City Corporation’s open spaces call on visitors not to pick up or forage mushrooms because of their role in both biodiversity and the health and preservation of the ancient trees.
The organisation is responsible for managing a network of around 11,000 acres of internationally important open spaces in London and the southeast of England. These include Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest.
A report has revealed that this network of “internationally important open spaces” managed by the City of London Corporation are worth £282.6 million each year in benefits to society, and £8.1 billion over 50 years.
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