Earlier this month, a visitor reported the sighting of the “Hericium erinaceus” fungus, which is also known as ‘lion’s mane,’ ‘tree hedgehog and ‘bearded tooth’ fungus after spotting it growing on a tree at a Canterbury wildlife site.
The exquisite example is around the size of a football. It will play a vital role in the woodland’s ecosystem, breaking down the wood it grows on to create nutrients for other organisms like invertebrates before perishing into the soil where plants reabsorb it.
To protect the rare find being harvested by foragers the Trust is not releasing the name of the reserve where it was found as it is a legally protected species. It is believed to have medicinal properties which are thought to ease conditions such as Dementia. Under UK law it has been awarded the highest level of legal protection and is one of only four species of fungi listed under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to pick this species and those caught doing so risk a £5,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment.
Area Manager Ian Rickards says:
“This is a really interesting find, and we are delighted that our reserves are being enjoyed by wildlife lovers who are uncovering a treasure trove of biodiversity. We are always excited by these finds and encourage people to report them to us so we can get an even better understanding of the ecology of our reserves.”
This is not the first time rare fungi has been spotted in Kent, last November a sighting of the rare Candelabra Coral was found in Additington with a further sighting reported in September 2024 after a wildlife enthusiast found it growing in Dunkirk, Faversham.