By Debbie James

David Harries peers intently down the lens of his microscope while books filled with colourful images of every fungi species known to man lie open on his desk.

The object of his interest today is a mystery waxcap which has popped up in his fields at Somerton Farm, Hundleton.

Discovering a species new to Somerton is always a eureka moment for David, who shares his keen interest in fungi with his wife, Holly.

So knowledgeable is he on the subject that he can recite the Latin names for the 60 or so varieties which fruit on the farm without hesitation.

Some varieties fruit just once every decade so the odds of finding a new species are in his favour.

Holly is the fungi scout - she walks the fields in search of waxcaps - while David uses his expert knowledge to identify them.

Holly had worked for the Dyfed Wildlife Trust where her interest and knowledge in nature developed. When she left there was plenty at Somerton to fuel that interest.

The Harries' knew they had grassland fungi at Somerton because the land had been managed on an un-intensive system since David's father took on the farm in the 1940s.

autumn-fruiting fungi are associated with semi and unimproved grasslands, which is why so few are seen on farmland these days.

Somerton has never been farmed intensively and, as such, the conditions are ideal for grassland fungi.

The waxcap-grassland group of fungi which interest David and Holly includes waxcaps, coral and club fungi, pink-gills and earthtongues.

These are highly attractive fungi which favour short, nutrient-poor and undisturbed turf, hence the reason why they are often found in cemeteries.

The herd of dexter cattle, which arrived at Somerton five years ago, has helped to reveal yet more varieties. They graze in such a manner that the short grass swards are perfect for grassland fungi.

"The way we manage the land helps to expose the fungi,'' says Holly. "We graze the best areas tightly and leave those areas to rest in late September and October so that the cattle don't knock the fungi over.'' Although the land is not certified as organic it is as good as, because no fertiliser or chemicals are used.

Very often David could be moving an electric fence for the cattle when he stumbles upon something new. Examples of rare species are collected, dried and sent to Kew for recording.

And rare many of them are. Across Europe, the grasslands that support these fungi are threatened by agricultural intensification which has resulted in a decline in both the number and diversity of species. This means that many are now endangered, but the most important members get special attention as priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

There are three of these at Somerton - the date-coloured hygrocybe spadicea waxcap, olive earth-tongues and bloxam blue.

The Bloxam blue is Holly's favourite, and not only for its vivid colour. A keen sailor, she had spotted her dream boat, a lugger, for sale on the day David discovered the species at Somerton. So elated was he with the find that her surprise purchase was never questioned. Holly named the boat Bloxam Blue in its honour.

In Pembrokeshire, the Harries' interest in fungi is shared by others through the Pembrokeshire Fungus Recording Network. The group was established in 2005 to gather information about the distribution of grassland fungi in the county, liaising with organisations including the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (PCNP).

David is the network's co-ordinator while Sam Bosanquet, of the CCW, takes the lead on identification and recording. Jane Hodges, of the PCNP, provides a link with the Pembrokeshire Biodiversity Partnership.

There are often new sightings to report on the network's website and in its newsletters. There may be more this month because today, David is off on a mission. His mother-in-law's cleaner has telephoned to report that some unusual varieties of fungi have appeared on the lawn of an old Victorian house where she cleans.

Who knows what he will find when he gets there but the prospect alone of discovering a new variety has made him a very happy man as he sets off down the farm lane.

4:22pm Monday 25th February 2008

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