One of Britain’s rarest fungi has been identified on Alderney for the first time, according to the Alderney Wildlife Trust.
The species — the date waxcap — was discovered earlier this month by ecologist Niamh McDevitt. The trust says that only around 100 sightings of this fungus have ever been recorded in the UK.
Date waxcaps typically grow in unimproved dry grasslands and are known for their distinctive appearance: a watery, glossy head, a brown cap, yellow-orange gills, and a yellow stem.
The discovery marks an important addition to the island’s biodiversity records.
