October is a great month for spotting fungi in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. As the air turns damp and cool, woodlands and nature reserves come alive with mushrooms of all shapes, colours and sizes. These autumn treasures are not just beautiful! They play a vital role in recycling nutrients, supporting plants, and helping to keep ecosystems healthy.

But a word of caution: while fungi are fascinating to look at, many are poisonous if eaten. Please enjoy them with your eyes and camera only.

Here are some striking species you may spot this month:

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Perhaps the most iconic of all fungi, the Fly Agaric looks like something out of a fairy tale. With its bright red cap speckled with white spots, it’s a true sign of autumn. Look for it in birch woodlands and mixed forests.

Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina)

A small but eye-catching mushroom, the Amethyst Deceiver has a beautiful purple hue that fades as it ages. It’s called “deceiver” because it looks a lot like the poisonous Lilac Fibrecap. Found among leaf litter in deciduous woodlands, its delicate colour is a real autumn highlight.

Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus)

The Shaggy Inkcap, or ‘lawyer’s wig’, is a distinctive fungus with a tall, white, shaggy cap. As it ages, its gills change from white to pink to black, and the cap gradually dissolves away. Look for it in grassland, roadside verges, and even your garden!

Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae)

Growing on dead and dying branches, this soft, velvety fungus really does resemble an ear in shape. Jelly Ear is often found in clusters and can appear throughout the year, but autumn is a particularly good time to see it.

Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor)

Turkeytail is a common bracket fungus that grows on dead logs and stumps. Its colourful bands give it the look of a Turkey’s tail feathers! These fungi can be a mix of colours – brown, yellow, grey, purple, green or black – but the edges are always pale, cream or white.
 

Where to Spot Fungi

Gobions Wood Nature Reserve (Potters Bar) - A fungi hotspot with over 550 species recorded.

Danemead (Hoddesdon) – An Oak hornbeam woodland that’s rich in fungi, including larger bracket fungi.

Astonbury Wood (near Stevenage) - One of our newest nature reserves. This ancient woodland is nationally recognised for its fungi, with an incredible 750 species recorded.

Old Park Wood (Harefield) - A peaceful reserve where fallen logs and damp soils create ideal conditions for fungi.

October is the perfect month to enjoy the fascinating world of fungi. We hope this month’s ‘What to See’ inspires you to look a little closer on your autumn walks.

Discover more about these species of fungi and others on our Wildlife Explorer page, or download a fungi spotter sheet to help you ID common species.