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David

Mistletoe, Coventry city centre

Mistletoe, Coventry city centre

These bunches of mistletoe were growing on trees within the ring road in the centre of Coventry. The one above was on a tree between the university and the cathedrals.

Mistletoe, Coventry city centre

These bunches were near the top end of Warwick Road. The Greyfriars spire can be seen in the background below.

Mistletoe, Coventry city centre

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David

Woodland clearing, Sutton Park

Woodland, Sutton Park

Time for a reminder that the trees aren’t always bare. This is a woodland clearing in Sutton Park as it was last August.

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David

Sulfur tuft mushrooms on a lawn

Sulfur tuft mushrooms on a lawn

A fairly common fungus species, and one of the more visible ones now the weather is getting hard, sulfur tufts form large clumps of yellow mushrooms. These were growing on the lawn outside the flats on Merridale Road.

Sulfur tuft mushrooms on a lawn

Sulfur tuft mushrooms on a lawn

Sulfur tuft mushrooms on a lawn

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David

Horse’s hoof fungus

Horses hoof fungus

A bracket fungus, a parasite and killer of many types of tree, it is shaped a little bit like the hoof of a horse. It is also called the Tinder fungus because it burns easily, and can be used to start a fire from a spark.  Ötzi the Iceman, whose five thousand year old remains were found in an Alpine glacier some years ago, was carrying four chunks of this fungus.

Horses hoof fungus

These specimens were growing on the trunk of a tree beside the Smestow Valley LNR railway walk, near the Alpine Way access point. The unnatural brightness of the greens of the moss and ivy leaves in the lower pictures is because I needed to use the on-camera flash to get enough light for the photos.

Horses hoof fungus

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David

Ruins, Dudley

Dudley castle

The remains of Dudley Castle and Dudley Priory seen on a late autumn day.

Dudley priory ruins

Dudley priory ruins

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David

Lilac-coloured mushroom

Lilac-coloured mushroom

Another mushroom growing in lawn style conditions.