High Rise Fungi in Wicklow

I was wandering through the woods near Laragh a few weeks back when I spotted this scene. Usually, my eyes are scanning the forest floor for mushrooms, but these beauties forced me to look up.

There is something so satisfying about the contrast here. The deep, velvety green of the moss hugging the bark against the smooth, matte cream of the fungi. It’s a perfect example of how the damp Irish climate turns every surface into a garden of its own. The image is not as crisp as I’d have liked, but that is the limitation of a smartphone zoom.

I’m not entirely certain of the species, though they look quite a bit like Birch Polypore (also known as the Razor Strop Fungus). If that’s what they are, they have a fascinating history. This specific fungus was actually found carried by Ötzi the Iceman, the 5,300-year-old mummy found in the Alps! Ancient people used it for its medicinal properties and even to carry embers for starting fires.

Whatever species they are, they add such a lovely architectural element to the chaotic web of twigs and branches. It’s these quiet little details that make a walk in Wicklow so grounding.