Hidden Life
at Heritage Forest, Pont Street, London, UK
Now a self-sustaining SUGi Pocket Forest, this area was once a barren stretch of gravel dotted with a few plane trees. The rapid growth since planting in 2021 has restored vital biodiversity to the heart of Chelsea.
Visitors can now see thriving native trees, shrubs, animals, and pollinators, but the web of life is also bustling out of sight, both below the soil and at a microscopic level.
To highlight the wealth of living species now flourishing in the rewilded area, we have collaborated with fungi photographer Max Mudie. He has captured macro images of numerous fungi and moulds making their home throughout the Heritage Forest.
Their presence demonstrates that strong mycorrhizal networks have developed underground and that the soil in the forest is healthy. It is especially exciting that some of the mushrooms observed are usually found only in old-growth forests (typically over a century in age), underlining the success of the Miyawaki ‘fast forest building’ method employed by SUGi.
In partnership
"I’ve seen species in this 3-year-old urban forest that I would normally only encounter in an old growth forest."
— Max Mundie, Fungi Expert & Photographer
Frosty Bonnet
(Mycena tenerrima)
The dainty Frosty Bonnet mushroom is a remarkable organism, quietly at work just beneath our feet. These tiny fungi play a crucial role in decomposition, breaking down organic matter and returning nutrients to the ecosystem. In autumn, a closer look at decomposing leaves, twigs, or other organic debris might reveal their presence. However, you’ll need a keen eye, as they measure just 3mm in size. Despite their diminutive stature, their impact on maintaining the health of the forest floor is profoundly significant.
Lemon Disco
(Bisporella citrina)
The fungus produces tiny yellow “fairy cups,” up to 3mm in diameter, often without stalks. They fruit in groups or dense clusters on decaying deciduous wood that has lost its bark. Lemon discos are saprobic, meaning they obtain nutrients by breaking down complex
organic molecules into simpler ones.
Blue Round Head
(Stropharia cf. caerulea)
The blue roundhead is an agaric fungus that helps decompose organic matter and improve soil health. This appears to be a specimen in the early stage of its development. Fully grown, they can measure up to 7cm in diameter and have a characteristic bright blue colour. In mycology, the abbreviation “cf.” is used to indicate that a specimen is likely to belong to a particular species, but the actual species cannot yet be confirmed.
Slime Mould
(Didymium sp.)
Slime moulds are crucial players in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability. As powerful decomposers, they break down organic matter like leaf litter, recycling nutrients, enriching soil fertility, supporting plant growth, and benefiting the entire ecosystem.
They also help maintain ecological balance, preventing any one species from dominating.
The slime mould life cycle involves a free-living single-celled stage and the formation of spores that are produced in multi-cellular fruiting bodies. It is the fruiting bodies which have been captured in the photograph.
Orange Bonnet
(Mycena acicula)
A delicate mushroom with a slender, winding stem and a brightly coloured, fluted cap measuring up to 1cm across, these bonnet mushrooms are a delight to see. They thrive in damp micro-environments and can be found nestled beneath dense vegetation, moss, and leaf litter on the forest floor.
