The Glen Has Ears

I love a wander through the Glen of the Downs. No matter the season, the light filtering through those ancient oaks always feels a bit magical. On a recent stroll, I looked up and spotted these strange little oddities clinging to a branch overhead.

They are known as Jelly Ear fungi. They really do look like little human ears listening in on the forest’s secrets. There’s actually a fascinating bit of folklore attached to them too; the Latin name Auricularia auricula-judae links them to Judas Iscariot. Legend has it he hanged himself on an Elder tree (the tree these fungi love most) and these "ears" are said to be a remnant of his spirit.

Folklore aside, I just love their texture. They look almost translucent against the bright, overcast sky.