The best of elf

SCARLET FUNGI PUT THE FUN IN WOODLAND WALK

- AMY SHAKESHAFT

IF YOU go down to the woods today... you might see a scarlet surprise.

One of my favourite sights on a woodland walk is the merry scarlet elf cup. These fungi delight the inner child in me who trusted that woodlands and forests were home to fairy folk. I was thrilled to see so many of them spattered across the woodland floor on my (rainy) weekend walk.

Scarlet elf cups sprout in vivid pops of colour on decaying tree roots, bracken and forest floor litter. Luckily for the northwest, these mushrooms favour high rainfall, thriving in damp, shady areas.

They appear in late winter to early spring and are uncommon, but widespread.

Once you spot a few, you'll see them peppered all over the place, braiding themselves up fallen trees and peeking out from scattered bracken and fallen leaves.