dhvfjlyvujefv

Wildlife Around and About East LothianLast month I wrote about how September can be a strange month – not quite summer, not quite autumn. October is a bit different; it’s very definitely autumnal now. The days are getting shorter, the geese are arriving in big numbers and there is less litter for countryside rangers to pick up on a Monday morning.

This year has been a great one for fruit - the hedgerows are full of brambles and there has already been a fine crop of wild strawberries and raspberries. Rowan trees are also having an excellent year with regard to fruit, their branches being absolutely laden with bright red berries. These berries are really good food for birds during autumn and winter and are a particular favourite of blackbirds and visiting winter thrushes such as redwings. They are edible to humans and can be made into a jelly which is very rich in vitamin C (the berries that is, not the birds).

Rowans were traditionally planted near houses and churches as they were believed to protect against witches. During spring whole houses would be decorated with rowan branches and lambs were made to jump through a hoop made of rowan to protect them from evil. One unfortunate side effect of having rowans close to houses was that chickens would eat the fallen, rotted berries. This would lead to the chickens becoming intoxicated, hence the tree was referred to as “hen drunk” in some parts of Scotland.

If you find yourself in a woodland this month check the ground for interesting fungi. The fly agaric is one of our most familiar mushrooms – it’s the classic red and white spotty one that garden gnomes like to sit on. Like many fungi, this forms a mutually beneficial relationship with plant species, in this case with trees such as birch or pine. This kind of relationship is known as symbiosis.The white spots are actually the remains of a veil which completely covers the young mushroom as it emerges. This veil gradually breaks up and may eventually disappear altogether. This is why older fly agarics can be found with no spots at all.

The fungus’ name is thought to be derived from its former use as an insecticide. The cap of the mushroom was crumbled in milk to from a toxic soup irresistible to flies, which would then succumb to the poison, or simply become a bit dozy and drown. Fly agarics are also toxic to humans although fatalities are rare. In the past they were used, in low doses, by Siberian shamans to induce a trance –like mystical state (don’t try this at home).

COUNTRYSIDE NEWS October 2013

Forthcoming Ranger Service Events:Sunday 27th October Saltoun CircuitA 14.5km (9 mile) circular walk taking in the Pencaitland Railway Walk, Saltoun Big Wood, and the Birns and Tyne Waters.

Hikes are charged at £4 per person. Details provided when booking. To book a place phone 01620 827421.

Rowan with berries

Fly agaric