Funghi on the hill, October 2012

The 2012 survey of funghi on Garway Hill Common took place on 18th October.

Regular readers will know that the reasons for undertaking the annual survey are twofold: it acts as an indicator of the effectiveness of the Commoners’ Association’s environmental management scheme and it provides a good walk on the hill in the company of an experienced naturalist. This year, mycologist Sheila Spence of Marches Funghi once again led the walk. After a long wet summer the autumn weather was continuing the theme and the days prior to the walk had been wet enough for the occasion to be called off, but on the day we got a dryish but overcast day. It was decided that the 2012 walk would concentrate on the western slopes of the hill

The following species of funghi were observed:

Bovista plumbea	Grey Puffball
Calvatia (Handkea) utriformis	Mosaic Puffball
Clavaria fragilis	White Spindles
Clavulina corniculata	Meadow Coral
Clavulinopsis helvola	Yellow Club
Clavulinopsis luteoalba	Apricot Club
Clytocybe clavipes	Club Foot
Clytocybe vibecina	Mealy Funnel
Collybia fusipes	Spindle Toughshank
Coprobia granulata	Cow Pat fungus
Hygrocybe chlorophana	Golden Waxcap
Hygrocybe glutinipes	Glutinous Waxcap
Hygrocybe insipida	Spangle Waxcap
Hygrocybe pratensis	Meadow Waxcap
Hygrocybe reidii	Honey Waxcap
Lactarius quietus	Oakbug Milkcap
Lycoperdon nigrescens	Dusky Puffball
Lycoperdon perlatum	Common Puffball
Macrolepiota procera	The Parasol
Mycena flavoalba	Ivory Bonnet
Mycena galericulata	Common Bonnet
Mycena pura	Lilac Bonnet
Rickenella swartzii	Collared Mosscap
Mycena epipterygia	Yellowleg Bonnet
Russula heterophylla	Greasy Green Brittlegill
Vascellum pratense	Meadow Puffball

The different environment on the western side of the hill resulted in several new species being observed. Generally, the numbers of funghi were fewer than in previous years. Whether this was due to the exceptionally wet and cool weather which had characterised 2012 from April onwards, or whether it was due to the earlier timing of the walk (2011’s walk was in November) is hard to say.

However, there was a delicious bonus for two of the participants – two large parasols made good eating later in the day.

(A word of caution – very few of the funghi to be found on Garway Hill are edible, so do not be tempted to eat anything you find unless you are certain about what you are doing. Some will make you feel very ill, many just taste horrible.)

Fire over Garway

The Beacon alight

One of the highlights of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the village took place at the top of Garway Hill as the sun went down on Monday 4th July 2012.

As part of a nationwide co-ordinated event, a beacon was lit at 10.15pm, one of many  across the length and breadth of the country. The Garway event was organised and funded by Garway Parish Council and the Garway Hill Commoners Association.

The beacon structure was made by blacksmith students at Holme Lacey college and took the form of an open metal basket with a lattice design representing the Crown. This was set atop a stout wooden pole approximately 4 metres high. It was mounted inside the brick structure of the old World War 2 radio tracking station at the summit, which made the beacon visible in a 360 degree arc and also provided a ready-made safety barrier.

The Garway Hill event began at 8.00pm as people began to arrive, climbing the hill from the Sun Lane entrance and other access points. Many brought picnics and for the old and infirm there was a shuttle service of 4x4s run by local volunteers to take then to the summit.

People gathering for the event

The recent weather had been rather unsettled and rather wet and there were fears that the event might be washed out. However, we were lucky to have a fine, if rather cool, evening – not exactly June weather, but just about OK, and the growing numbers of people arriving at the summit were not deterred. From the top of the hill there were clear views of all the local peaks which were expected to host similar beacon events.

As darkness began to fall it was estimated that over 400 people were waiting for the lighting of our beacon and the fireworks which were to follow. Many were local but there was also a large number of visitors, some from as far away as Brazil. There was a convivial atmosphere on the hill as the crowd anticipated the start of the ceremony.

Roger Williams lights the beacon

The honour of lighting the beacon was given to Roger Williams, a long-time local resident and stalwart of the Commoners Association. Splendidly bedecked in a tricorn hat, he was raised up in a safety cage attached to a digger arm at precisely 10.15pm. After some momentary trouble with the lighting torch, the beacon caught fire quickly in a steady breeze and a great cheer went up, followed by the singing of the national anthem.

Looking around to other hills near and far, other beacons were becoming visible and the occasional firework was also seen. This was the cue for the most spectacular part of our event. The firework display was set out in a roped-off enclosure to one side of the summit and slightly below, so everyone had a good view. It was a sensational mixture of air burst and ground effects, full of noise and colour and set to a background of patriotic music. At the end it drew a sustained burst of applause for the pyrotechnicians.

Crowd enjoying the firework display

One of the spectacular airbursts

All agreed it had been a fantastic community event. It took some time for the large crowd to leave the hill, as though many were reluctant to tear themselves away from the happy party atmosphere.

The following day, volunteers cleaned the summit of litter and made sure that the hill could revert to its timeless charm once again.

Diamond Jubilee Beacon and Picnic on Garway Hill

As one of the many events being organised locally to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, on the evening of June 4th 2012 the top of Garway will see the lighting of a special  Jubilee Beacon. A large crowd is expected for the occasion, which is part of a co-ordinated  national sequence of beacons being lit up and down the country atop prominent landmarks.

The first beacon in the chain will be lit in London and a timed sequence of firings will ripple out across the country. The Garway beacon will be lit at 10.15pm precisely. As we look across to the Welsh mountains, the Cotswolds and the Malverns we should see answering beacons being lit. This will be followed by fireworks in the twilight on our hill.

Before that happens, the Garway Jubilee event organizers, with the participation and approval of  Garway Parish Council and the Garway Hill Commoners Association, have arranged for a special Jubilee Picnic on the hill. The event starts at 8pm. Bring your own food of course. There will be a bar at the top  of the hill but feel free to bring your own drink if you want. This will be a family event, so bring the kids along to witness what should be a memorable spectacle.

The beacon structure itself  is a tribute  to local craftsmanship. Standing at over 13 feet high it will be mounted inside the brick remains of the old World War 2 Wirelesss Tracking Station at the summit of the hill and takes the form of a large cast iron basket on top of a sturdy wooden pole which will be firmly socketted into the ground. It has been specially made for the occasion by blacksmith students at Holme Lacey College with the collaboration of the Princes Trust. Our thanks to local Councillor Russell B Hamilton for his efforts in making this happen.

After the event, the beacon will be stored for the future as a worthwhile local feature to be brought back into use when the occasion next demands a similar ceremony.

Postscript: Read a report of the event