Yellow and rubbery - not a duck but a chicken of the woods
by Paul Evans from on (#ATAR)
Wenlock Edge, Shropshire: The fungi create a bright yellow expanding universe, continuing the pact with immortality inside the yew
An old yew tree above the holloway has a bright yellow growth emerging from its trunk. This brilliant, sulphur-yellow, stuff seems weirdly at odds with the shadowy woods of early summer. The vividness is caused by the fungus Laetiporus sulphureus, aka "chicken of the woods". The name is derived from its flavour, apparently.
We had gone to the gardens at Morville Hall, near Bridgnorth, a few miles away. It's a country house owned by the National Trust but with gardens that are managed by individual tenants. One of the plots is the Dower House garden, which was created by Katherine Swift. It's a real joy, particularly when the old roses and wild flowers are out.
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