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The fascinating world of fungi
Exploring an ancient woodland in Dorset, England
I recently took the long journey back from my home in Cape Town to visit family in England. It was my first English autumn in many years, which I spent in rural Dorset.
It was a fleeting trip, leaving the howling southeaster winds of early summer in the Cape for cool crisp weather and the intense yellows, oranges and reds of the English autumn leaves.
There are many ancient woodlands in Dorset, with the reward of wandering in their shade between vistas looking out across the rolling green hills of the surrounding landscapes.
Sheep graze in the fields and those who are more observant may be lucky enough to spot herds of deer or the less commonly seen European Hare, which can be seen along the hedgerows and woodland margins.
The autumn Westcountry weather is changeable with sudden squalls of rain and sunshine between the showers. We packed our morning coffee and headed for the…