Shroom at the bottom

Everyone who's been out and about in the British countryside in early summer must have spotted these clusters of tawny 'dinner plates' stacked on or around tree stumps or up a rotten trunk.. Dryad's Saddle, Polyporous squamosus, isn't rare but neither is it generally regarded as a menu option. It is however perfectly edible when young and tender and this cluster being only yards from the house I just have to nip outside, cut off a few segments, slice them up and quick-fry them in butter with garlic and a dash of soy sauce, to have a tasty meal component.

With ash die-back on the horizon we can expect this fungus by the tonne since it grows on dead and dying timber. Might as well learn to love it!