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The decomposition of sludge and the organic part of silt reduces oxygen levels in the pond. The resulting anaerobic conditions can then begin to kill everything living there. A combination of manually removing the sludge and applying Siltex can massively improve the condition of the habitat.

Yesterday was Tree Day so I spent the day at the Centre for Wildlife Gardening hanging out with Hamish the cat, doodling on wood with pyropens and using a saw and axe to make a mallet out of holly wood!

Yet another fungi...

The photos show two different stages in the life cycle of the same fungus - Coral spot. The light pink blobs grow in spring/early summer and are then replaced by hard, dark red growths that will survive through winter. Classed as a plant pathogen, coral spot is usually too weak to infect healthy trees and tends to be found on damaged or previously infected branches.

Did you know that millipedes can live from 1 to 10 years depending on the species?

We've found lots of woodlice under logs and in leaf litter at Sydenham Hill Wood recently including the common shiny, the common striped and even what we believe to be pygmy woodlice :O Woodlice are not actually insects but in fact crustaceans and are related to shrimps and crabs! They play an important part in the nutrient-recycling system and eat leaves, rotting wood and even their own faeces but they don't pee, instead they release ammonia as a gas through their shells

Slime mould is often mistaken for a fungi but is infact a living organism! They are single-celled organisms that group together and move about. The first photo shows 'mucilago crustacea', also known as dog sick slime mould due to it's vomit like appearance. The second and third photos show 'ceratiomyxa fruticulosa' and finally the last photo shows 'trichia decipiens'. Camera tip: hold a small magnifying glass up to your phones camera to capture some close-ups!

Its been a crazy past few weeks for fungi at Sydenham Hill Wood and we've been doing lots of identification using the Collins fungi guide! The first photo shows 'stereum rameale', a crust fungi that is mainly found on branches. The second photo shows 'exidia glandulosa' also known as black witches butter. The third and fourth photos show 'tremella mesenterica' also known as yellow brain.