Rare coral fungus discovered at wildlife park

A rare fungus once thought extinct in Britain has been discovered at a wildlife park in Kent.

The crown-tipped coral fungus was spotted growing on a fallen log at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury by a keeper near the rabbit enclosure.

Also known as candelabra coral, the fungus went 116 years without a confirmed sighting before being rediscovered in Suffolk in 2012, heritage officer Steve Kirk said.

He said the fungus was still rarely recorded in Britain, but there had been more sightings in recent years, and it was possible that warmer summers could be helping the species spread.

In recent years, the fungus has also been spotted in Hampshire, Leicestershire and Dorset.

Kirk said: "It's one of the rarest fungi you can find in this country, so it's incredible to see it growing here at Wildwood.

"It's got this beautiful structure that looks just like coral.

"If you look closely at the tips of the little branches, they resemble the points on a crown, which is where it gets its name."

He said the fungus grows on dead and decaying wood, with most of the organism hidden inside the log itself.

"What you're seeing is actually the fruiting body," he added. "The fungus itself runs right through the log, and these little structures are popping out almost like apples on a tree."

"We seem to have been seeing more of these fungi since around 2022," he added.

"They appear to like warmer summers, and a good soggy autumn like we've had this year is perfect for fungi."

Visitors can see the fungus near the rabbit enclosure, where staff have put up signs around it, along with protective barriers.

It will eventually decay, but staff hope the fungus will return next year.

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