After a Hot July ... What Next?

After the warmest July on record* there are signs that autumn is on the way at Fingle Woods. Not wishing the good summer weather to end, these seasonal changes are now visible and inevitable. While the colourful spring wildflowers are a fading memory, nuts and seeds are swelling, berries are bursting and fungi flaunt a wealth of forms. To capture this intoxicating transition we will be posting photos from around the woods as the telltale clues reveal themselves.First on the list is  a bright and colourful bracket fungus. Commonly known as Chicken of the Woods, the Laetiporus sulphureus or sulphur polypore stands out with its orange and lemon shades emerging from decaying hardwood trees, often on oak. Many references say that the Chicken of the Woods is edible but others suggest it may cause problems with digestion, so perhaps it might be best to enjoy the visual treat and leave it on the tree for others to share.If you see any signs of autumn in the woods, we'd love to post them on this blog and share them with the other readers. Please email them to ... finglewoods@woodlandtrust.org.uk(*) NASA's Earth Observatory - global temperature recordby Matt Parkins