Updated April 9th 2024
NOTICE
Annual General Meeting - Please note date has changed
April 30th 2024 to be held in the Reading Room Chailey Green at 7.30.p.m. Presentation of 2023 Report and a short talk by Jonathan Vernon on the Markstakes Veteran and Ancient Trees.
Advise attendance to '[email protected]' if you wish to come.
Annual General Meeting - Please note date has changed
April 30th 2024 to be held in the Reading Room Chailey Green at 7.30.p.m. Presentation of 2023 Report and a short talk by Jonathan Vernon on the Markstakes Veteran and Ancient Trees.
Advise attendance to '[email protected]' if you wish to come.
March 21st 2024
Insect Survey 2023 from Peter Hodge added to the 'Surveys and Records' page.
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FUNGUS NEWS Markstakes Mushroom Update - Jonathan V. I’ve learnt that after a dry spell a splash of rain, or a deluge, is a great signal to take a look to see what mushrooms might appear from the earth, from under rotting leaves, out of a decaying log, or emerge through an established, living or dead trunk, The current deluge (18 September) excluded, the wet spells over summer have seen the following emerge: Multiple sightings of the common earthball either side of the eastern path travelling south towards the ponds, and sulphur tuft appearing in a long fallen trunk here, and in simple spots around the woods. More surprising was stumbling across a standing dead ash trunk covered in oyster mushrooms - they appeared, matured and withered away in the space of a few weeks. You'd need to be more eagle eyed to spy the tiny, delicate pleated inkcap that can appear, dissolve/deteriorate in a day or two. (Bottom right) Pleated inkcap (Parasola plicatilis) (Bottom Left) Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) (Top left) Common Stump Brittlestem (Psathyrella piluliformis) (Top right) Charcoal Burner (Russula cyanoxantha) (Centre left) Scrambled Egg Slime (Fuligo septica) |
Heather Glade Oct 2020 Crescent Glade Nov 2020 Spindle Bush fruits (can you see the spider?)
Heather Glade May 2020 Crescent Glade May 2020 Heath Speedwell Veronica officinalis
Early springtime at Markstakes
OUR WORK
Work continues in our selected areas of conservation and restoration, and we have been very fortunate to have had a huge amount of help from volunteer groups including the Brighton Conservation Volunteers. Thank you to them all for their help.
Other work includes maintenance of the 'Dead Hedge' around the pond and work on the mire area.
The 'Dead-hedge' has now been rebuilt around the pond (see picture). The materials were available on site but had to be gathered and transported. Very wet and muddy conditions but worthwhile.
Well done to all our willing volunteers.
VOLUNTEERING
Please do come along and help. We meet regularly on Monday mornings at 09.30 at the gate in the flint wall in Markstakes Lane, South Chailey. Bring suitable clothing and footwear and a snack for the break. Tools and gloves provided.