Last week we had two Autumn themed Wild Days Out, where we looked for fungi, collected leaves to preserve in wax and cooked toffee apples over the fire.
We spotted lots of fungi on our walk including some fresh fly agaric in the meadow by Ivy North Hide. We also saw a species of Mycena, a blackening waxcap and candlesnuff fungus, along with plenty of common puffballs which the children enjoyed poking to see how they dispersed their spores.
After lunch we headed over to the campfire area with the leaves we had collected on the morning’s walk. Before melting the wax which would be used to preserve the colour of the leaves, we had a go at cooking toffee apples over the fire. First we whittled a stick then pierced the skin of the apple a number of times using a fork. The apple was then warmed up over the fire then removed so a sugar and cinnamon mix could be sprinkled over. This process was then repeated until the sugar had caramelised nicely – they tasted delicious!
Once the fire had begun to die down we melted some wax in a pan then tied a piece of string to our favourite leaves and carefully dunked them into the melted wax. The wax will preserve the colour of the leaves so they stay looking autumnal for longer and they make great bunting or mobiles.
Whilst the leaves were left to dry on the line, Jim demonstrated how to ignite the dry fruiting bodies of King Alfred’s Cakes, another fungi we had found and collected that morning. Once ignited they can be used as kindling to start a fire, which explains the other names that have been given to this fungus, including carbon balls and coal fungus.
King Alfred’s Cake used as kindling
Once lit, the King Alfred’s Cake can smoulder gently for a long time, which has led to the speculation that in the past people could have used the fungus to transport fire from place to place.
King Alfred’s Cake
We also found time to have a rummage in search of bugs and Thomas found this impressive beetle larva under one of the logs:
Beetle larva
Our Wild Days Out will return next year at February Half Term, where we will be using natural materials to sculpt and weave along with fire to melt and create with pewter! To be added to our Wild Days Out mailing list to receive information and details on how to book via Eventbrite please email BlashfordLakes@hiwwt.org.uk
To see what else we have coming up over the Autumn and Winter please visit the website.
As well as our Wild Days Out last week, Jim attended the New Forest National Park’s Wild Play Day at Holmsley, expertly assisted by volunteers Nora and Nathanial. Armed with plenty of clay they were overseeing the wonderfully titled ‘Brown and Sticky’ activity and a messy time was had by all. Here are some of the creations sculpted on the day:
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 
Sadly quite a few less charming brown and stickies now a common sight on the paths to Goosander and Lawing hides, These and constantly pulled down No Dog signs clealrly indicative that the reserve is being used out of hours by the more militant and less enightened minority of dog owners. Is there anything that can be done about this? There are square miles and square miles of land open to all to enjoy surely we can keep this small but wonderful oasis special and the wildlife undisturbed?
Very difficult if people are determined to undermine the site in this way. Clearly there is no lack of dog walking in the area so this is obviously just an act aimed at damaging the reserve, the signs and the experience of all the other visitors. Unfortunately anti-social dog walking is quiet prevalent, even in The New Forest area, which probably has more opportunities for responsible dog walking than almost anywhere in the country. If anyone is able to identify the culprit(s), I would be delighted to follow it up. Only a small minority act in this way but the damage they can do is immense, the owners may not recognise it but to wildlife a domestic dog is just a wolf in thin disguise.