The Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus is a relatively common yet often overlooked species, easily recognised when at rest by the series of eyespots, softly ringed ocelli, scattered across the undersides, from which its common name is drawn. These markings, variable in number and clarity, serve not only as ornament but as subtle defence, diverting the gaze of would-be predators.

The Heddon Valley, situated in the north-western part of Exmoor, is a deep, well-wooded river valley descending to the cliffs and tidal edge of the Bristol Channel. It supports one of the strongest populations of the High Brown Fritillary Fabriciana adippe in the United Kingdom, with adults typically on the wing from mid-June to mid–late July.

Of the three species of Clouded Yellow recorded in the British Isles, the Clouded Yellow Colias croceus, Berger’s Clouded Yellow C. alfacariensis, and the Pale Clouded Yellow C. hyale, C. croceus is by far the most frequently encountered and the easiest to identify. The latter two species are very similar in appearance and occur only as very rare immigrants.

A visit to the Ardnamurchan Peninsula is a pleasure at any time of year, but in early June the peninsula seems to acquire a quiet enchantment of its own. At this time the woods, rivers and clearings come alive with subtle movement, and nowhere is this more apparent than at Ariundle National Nature Reserve, a hidden jewel set within the wild beauty of the western Highlands. Here, beside the clear waters of the River Strontian, one may encounter one of the reserve’s most delicate inhabitants, the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene.

Bound to the open, windswept landscapes of tundra-like environments, the Ptarmigan Lagopus muta finds its British sanctuary high in the Scottish mountains, where cold air and sparse vegetation still echo the conditions of its broader Arctic range. In the UK, the species occurs at the southernmost edge of its global distribution, with a small, fragmented population estimated at only a few thousand breeding pairs, making it one of Britain’s most specialised upland birds.

Rhodotus palmatus, the Wrinkled Peach, is a distinctive and uncommon fungus primarily associated with decaying hardwoods, especially elm. Its coral-pink to orange cap is marked by a network of raised, vein-like ridges that become more pronounced in moist conditions. This unusual surface pattern, combined with its often translucent, gelatinous texture, makes the species easy to recognize and a notable find for field mycologists.

Despite its rich peach-orange colouration, Neottiella rutilans (Pezizales: Pyronemataceae) is a small ascomycete fungus that is easily overlooked where it grows, typically among Polytrichum mosses on heathland or in light, sandy soils. Its close association with Polytrichum is characteristic of many species, which often form specialised parasitic or parasymbiotic relationships with their moss hosts.

In 2017 I made several visits to Warnham, West Sussex, to search for fungi and slime moulds. I am particularly drawn to cup fungi, and during an outing I photographed a representative selection of ascocarps growing on a fallen, heavily decayed hardwood log, likely Sycamore. Many brown cup fungi are notoriously difficult to identify with confidence based on macroscopic characters alone, so I collected a sample for assessment by Nick Aplin, the county recorder for ascomycetes.

Kretzschmaria deusta, commonly known as Brittle Cinder, is a formidable plant pathogen, one capable of inflicting serious structural damage on trees by instigating deep-seated decay in the root system and lower stem.

The Mountain Ringlet Erebia epiphron is among the more elusive butterflies of the British uplands. A univoltine species, it persists in scattered, often isolated colonies across remote montane landscapes. Its flight season is fleeting, and during unsettled weather the adults can be particularly difficult to detect, remaining concealed deep within grass tussocks where they shelter from wind and rain. Yet when temperature and humidity fall into harmony, the butterflies rise suddenly into the air, and a landscape that moments before seemed still and lifeless becomes quietly animated with movement.

King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica, or Cramp Balls as they are also commonly known, a name born from the old belief that carrying them could ward off cramp, are common and widespread across much of Britain. Hard and weighty to the touch, they cling to fallen Ash and Beech where they grow in domed, charcoal-black forms that resemble small burnt loaves.

The gelatinous, often ear-shaped Jelly Ear Auricularia auricula-judae (Auriculariales: Auriculariaceae) is a widespread and common basidiomycete, typically forming rubbery, brown to reddish-brown fruit bodies that can persist for weeks in cool, damp conditions.

Auriscalpium vulgare, the Earpick Fungus, is highly specialised in its ecology, relying on decaying pine cones as its primary substrate. Its mycelium penetrates the cone’s woody tissues, breaking down tough structural compounds and contributing to nutrient recycling within coniferous forest floors.

In its native home of New Zealand, the brain-like Scarlet Berry Truffle Paurocotylis pila grows beneath Podocarpus and has evolved to mimic the plant’s fruit. Its spores are carried by large birds, which consume the fallen fruits and are artfully deceived into eating the fungus as well.

Many organisms perform a vital role in the nutrient cycle, particularly in assisting with the conversion of animal dung into humus. The organisms featuring most prominently in this role are insects, mainly flies and beetles, and various species of fungi.

Macrolepiota procera, the Parasol mushroom, is a large saprobic basidiomycete fungus with a conspicuous fruiting body resembling a parasol once fully expanded. Two forms are currently recognised.

Despite its soft, almost ghostly colouration and ethereal appearance, the Bearded Tooth Hericium erinaceus is one of the most captivating fungi to be found in woodlands. Its long, hanging spines resemble a frozen waterfall, giving it a look that is at once delicate and otherworldly. Beyond its visual charm, these spines are cleverly designed to release spores efficiently, helping this rare slow-growing fungus spread within its preferred habitats.

Although widespread in parts of southern England, the Zoned Rosette Podoscypha multizonata remains an elusive and infrequently recorded fungus, its rosette-like, banded brackets blending almost perfectly with leaf litter and the muted colours of the forest floor. This camouflage, coupled with its preference for deep, undisturbed shade, helps explain its apparent rarity.

Favouring deciduous woodland habitats, though it may also occur beneath conifers in mixed stands, Otidea onotica, commonly called Hare’s Ear, typically emerges in small, clustered assemblages. Despite its modest dimensions, the species reveals itself readily when illuminated by favourable light: its delicate, ear-shaped ascocarps, suffused with pink-tinged yellow-orange hues, lend it a quiet yet unmistakable presence on the forest floor.