OR, MY FIRST JELLY OR JEWS EAR GOING IN MY SOUP. OYSTER, POLYPORE AND TURKEYTAIL.
Congratulations on surviving 2025. Now let’s crack on with an already insane 2026. Chaos with good stuff emerging from the smoke and mirrors. Hello my old birds and let’s get out and stretch our legs and breathe properly as every day is wonderful. Let’s cautiously peak out and go walkies and see what’s up.
IN THE WOODS IN THE PISSING RAIN
I had a plan to visit my old pal down in Putney to go walkies in the woods down there close to her in Putney woods (and next time we will go to Richmond). Forecast was heavy rain but I didn’t care and despite a slightly tortuous journey I arrived nice and early not in my Russian coat and hat that I’d been wearing during that cold snap, but in my waterproofs ready to blow away the cobwebs and slip and slide in the muddy terrain.
As soon as we entered the very beautiful and empty woods we happened upon a log that was covered in what looked like mauvish blisters amongst the thick ivy and debris.
This was my first encounter with jelly ears, known also as Jews ears as it grows on dead elder, the tree that Judas apparently hanged himself on. Indeed they are very ear shaped and very gelatinous which is quite unnerving as you gather them but gather them you must for they are medicinal . They are used for sore throats and other mouth problems. interestingly a an eye salve too. The Chinese use it for enhancing circulation, reducing colds and fevers and improving respiratory conditions and jaundice is also on the list of can do. Even modern research speaks of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and potential anticancer effects. I was so pleased with my first mushroomy ear that I mentally planned that I would be putting slices into my chicken foot and ankle broth waiting for me at home. Indeed I would have ample for my super healthy broth and then some. The excess would be dried and put into a glass jar.
My mate was on the birch polypore watch that I have droned on about before but they are very easy to find and teas of them will stop any flu or cold like foulness in its tracks. I have been healthy all through this grim season and despite not having the heating on for most of the time. Once she knew where she was looking she hunted them down with excited cries for we both are very competitive! Although a little soggy she found me some excellent specimens’ and my mushroom fever was getting sated. I was nearly out of polypores so I really needed them for my store cupboard, they would be sliced dried and put into glass jars too.
Then came the turkey tails, and abundance of these rascals too. They were varying colours due to the rain but these wafer thin frilly adornments to logs are a welcome sight at the gov in UK has suddenly banned them for sale fresh, along with cordyceps’, always a clear indication that they are very good for you and mean that you won’t be requiring their demonic fares of big pharma.
I found what turned out to be two distinct ones, the traditional ones that have a spectrum of blue greys to more earthy browns in their striations’. on another log I found more orangey that I originally thought were ochre brackets but when they dried back at home are just any turkey variant. and very stripy. Happiness is a muddy falling over in the woods old bird…. yes I was looking upwards hopefully for Chaga and some bracken caught me and I went arse over tit. What? It’s traditional for me to fall bash and crash at least once in my walks or travels.
Another wild shout from my mate and she had found what I think are oyster mushrooms on a vertical but dead birch. I was a little concerned as they were rather beige but wet so I needed to verify back home or I would have got terribly over excited.
After which in the pouring rain I declared it was time for my boots off and grounding, or earthing time. Half an hour later with boots back on i gathered some ivy to try out a washing up liquid recipe and a bough of what I think is spruce which I need to check and make sure it isn’t yew as we don’t want to be mixing the poisonous yew with any of our teas now do we?
Back at Mariolas I had a delicious bowl of specially made beetroot broth half Ukrainian and half Russian I believe but definitely more hearty than a borscht.
Happy days except for the ghastly wet dog trip home. Once there I separated my soggy finds and drank jugs of hot strong tea. Home sweet home after my fabulous wet outing . Mariola next time I will bring you some home made gingernuts as promised darling!
Old Bird Travels Solo! 