If you go down to the woods today... A ranger writes

Our Countryside Rangers have a wealth of knowledge on the places, plants and species that call East Lothian home. In this issue, Ranger Richard English tells us about the fungi to look out for on your September walks.

September can be an odd kind of month – it’s not quite summer, not quite autumn. Some days will be lovely and warm, whilst others will have you reaching for your winter coat. Whatever the weather, September is a time when fungi will be appearing all over the countryside.

Fantastically diverse

Fungi come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have a fantastically diverse range of lifestyles. Some are parasitic, whilst many live on dead wood or leaf-litter and help to recycle nutrients from these back into the soil, providing a valuable service to plants. Some even enter into symbiotic (i.e. mutually beneficial) relationships with trees. In this case the fungus feeds on the products of the tree’s photosynthesis, whilst the plant gains chemicals such as nitrogen from the fungal action in the soil.

One of the more traditionally mushroom-shaped group of fungi are the russulas, or brittlegills. The caps of these fungi come in a variety of brilliant colours, including reds, yellows and purples. This often contrasts with the clear white of the gills (the grooved bits on the underside of the cap) and the stipe (or stalk). They generally grow in deciduous woodlands (where they indulge in that symbiosis mentioned earlier), although can be found in a variety of other habitats. Some are edible, whilst others are poisonous.

A slightly odder-looking bunch are the cup fungi. These belong to a group called the ascomycetes. They have a rather aggressive approach to releasing their spores, firing them from specially adapted cells, occasionally reaching distances of 30cm. The orange cup fungus takes the unsurprising form of a bright orange cup, up to 1.5 cm across. When young these are usually just concave discs, but as they age the cup becomes deeper and more irregular. They can be found alone, or in small groups, in soil in woodland clearings and other open areas.

The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is one of our most familiar mushrooms – it’s the classic red and white spotty one that garden gnomes often sit on while fishing. 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 can eventually disappear altogether. This is why older fly agarics may be found with no spots at all.

From Shamans to Vikings...

This species forms a symbiotic relationship with birch or pine and is a common feature of the forests of northern Europe (including Scotland). It also has a long history in folklore. It was used by Siberian shamans to produce a trance state and was thought to account for the ferocity of Viking berserkers. It has also been used as a pesticide. The mushroom would be crumbled into milk and left out to attract flies, which would then be killed by the fungus’ toxins – also thought to be the derivation of the common name.

Whether they are quietly recycling nutrients beneath our feet, forming partnerships with trees or inspiring folklore, fungi are a fascinating feature of the autumn countryside.

Keep up to date

Keep up to date with all things Countryside Ranger on the service’s Facebook or Instagram pages. You’ll find news and information to help you make the most of your time in our coast and countryside spaces as well as beautiful photography of the species that live here.

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Celebrating our net zero journey during Climate Week

Our council's work transitioning to net zero will be in the spotlight later this month as part of a nationwide campaign.

Scotland's Climate Week raises awareness of the climate crisis, celebrates progress and inspires community action across Scotland.

Healthy, resilient and inspired

In its tenth year, this Climate Week is more relevant than ever. Across the UK, 72 large wildfires have raged this year - one of the most notable in Scotland's own Cairngorms National Park. From intense summer heatwaves to sudden torrential downpours, extreme weather is a clear reminder that Scotland is not immune to the effects of climate change.

Watching familiar landscapes transform due in real time can feel deeply unsettling. It's no surprise that almost 80% of people across the UK report worrying about the future due to climate change. While recognising this realities, Climate Week offers a chance to acknowledge the incredible work taking place right here in East Lothian. Our Climate Team believes that celebrating local progress is essential not only to reach net zero emissions, but to keep our staff and communities healthy, resilient and inspired.

Sustainable change

Within our council, sustainable change is already taking root.

The Climate Forest's tree planting efforts have been shortlisted for the APSE Awards in the 'Best Climate or Decarbonisation Initiative' category. As part of the wider Central Scotland Climate Forests initiative, the project aims to plant two million trees across East Lothian's urban and rural spaces by 2031. Beyond capturing carbon, woodlands of increased cover and quality will help to protect our native species, such as badgers and woodpeckers, and build resilient ecosystems that protect carbon-storing trees' health. Additionally, increased urban tree cover will lower air temperature and prevent roads, pavements and buildings from absorbing heat in hot summer months.

Momentum is also building across our active travel networks. A project that deserves to be highlighted is Musselburgh Active Toun (MAT), an ambitious cycle path network of over 16km, backed by £250,000 from Transport Scotland. Alongside MAT, the Active Freeway project - spanning roughly 40km from Dunbar to Edinburgh - is making steady progress, with one section already complete. These projects aim to eliminate common barriers to all forms of active travel, particularly concerns around safety and accessibility, and encourage more East Lothian's residents to get walking, wheeling and cycling.

Every change made now will pay dividends in the years to come.

Get involved 

Scotland's Climate Week will run from the 28th of September to the 4th of October. If these local success stories have inspired you to get involved with climate action, check out what East Lothian Climate Hub events are happening near you.