Fungal Safari at Hoylake Willows

Earlier this month a Wirral Wildlife member got in touch with us to ask for help identifying the fungus she had photographed on a willow log at Hoylake Willows, near Manor Road station.

What fungus is this?

We sent the query to fungus expert John Ratcliffe who said it was probably Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) but he would need to have a closer look to be sure. He set off for Hoylake Willows the following day and found the log where the fungus was growing. John was able to confirm his identification of Turkeytail.

Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor)

Not one to miss a chance for some mycological exploration, he had a look around the site and spotted all these other fungi too!

Willow Barkspot (Diatrype bullata)

Common Jellyspot (Dacrymyces stillatus)

Crystal Brain (Exidia nucleata)

Netted Crust Byssomerulius corium

Scarlet Elfcup Sarcoscypha austriaca

Amber Jelly Exidia recisa

Smoky Bracket Bjerkandera adusta

Yellow Brain Tremella mesenterica

Poplar Bells Schizophyllum amplum

The underside of Poplar Bells Schizophyllum amplum

White Brain Exidia thuretiana

Blueing Bracket Postia subcaesia

Scurfy Twiglet Tubaria furfuracea

Oysterlings Crepidotus sp.
These need microscopy to get to species level
but John's microscope was away being serviced!

Many thanks to John for sharing his knowledge and going above and beyond in not only providing the answer to the initial question but going on a fungal safari and sending us these wonderful photos!

2025 Butterfly Recording Results at New Ferry Butterfly Park

Peacock butterfly

With great pleasure, we would like to share with you the information on butterflies we recorded in our transect walks between April and September 2025 at New Ferry Butterfly Park. 

Small Copper butterfly

2025 was a good year for butterflies thanks to the dry and sunny weather: we recorded 1151 individual butterflies, contrasting 553 in 2024! Almost all the species did well: in particular, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Peacock and Gatekeeper, followed by Speckled Wood, Large White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown, and Ringlet. Even some that are historically rare increased in number too: 8 Small Coppers (3 in 2024), and 5 Dingy Skippers during one walk (2 in 2024 in two sperate walks). 

Orange Tip butterfly

The species whose number remained more or less the same between 2024 and 2025 were Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Painted Lady, and Small Tortoiseshell, while there was a fall in Orange Tip (from 23 to 11), and Small White (from 123 to 78).

Brimstone butterfly

Brimstone butterflies have always been a steady and pleasant sighting for visitors in the Park.  Strangely their number in 2025 was less spectacular: we only recorded 47, in contrast with 53 the year before. The good news is that we saw quite a few Brimstone butterfly eggs and caterpillars in 2025 on Alder Buckthorn (their favourite food plant). Fingers crossed there will be more in the next recording season.

A Brimstone caterpillar

2025 saw us gratefully receiving exclusive personal training in the Park from Dave Costello and Eric Davies, whose superb photos made their way to the Butterfly Park's Facebook page. Thank you both for your support!  Our thanks also go to Claire Lyon and Paul Loughnane who stepped in when we were away, which made 26 out of 26 walks during the recording season.

Finally, we wish all the very best to all of you for a fantastic 2026!

Yan and Charles

(Photos by Roy Lowry, taken at New Ferry Butterfly Park)

New Year – New Opportunities – Taking Action for Wildlife

Members of Wirral Wildlife want to create a Wirral richer in wildlife by managing our reserves to increase biodiversity and encouraging people to join us.

If you are interested in taking action for wildlife alongside us, how can you get involved?

Do you like to be outdoors and use skills you already have – or learn new ones?

We look after 3 local nature reserves and practical work is carried out by honorary wardens and a team of volunteers. Once a month volunteers do practical work at Cleaver Heath and New Ferry Butterfly Park, with occasional workdays at Thornton Wood. Examples of tasks include removing invasive birch at Cleaver Heath so heather has a chance to spread, coppicing of hazel in Thornton Wood and removal of invasive species like Himalayan balsam. You could learn how to scythe or lay a hedge at New Ferry Butterfly Park.

Scything fun at New Ferry Butterfly Park!

A workday at Cleaver Heath

Do you have knowledge to identify plants, fungi, invertebrates, birds or mammals?

A team of recorders do annual surveys of local wildlife sites so there is a permanent record of the wildlife there and any changes. If you aren’t an expert you can learn as you go.

Surveying at Thurstaston Common

Are you interested or concerned about building developments in Wirral?

We look at planning applications to check if they may have an impact on wildlife and advise the council accordingly.

Are you interested in finding out more about local nature?

We have a programme of talks and guided walks open to the public. Monthly talks are held from September to April at Thornton Hough WI Hall and feature a wide range of speakers. Guided walks usually include a spring flower walk, a walk in Thornton Wood and an autumn fungi walk. Each autumn we hold an Apple Afternoon at New Ferry Butterfly Park where visitors can taste locally grown apples and help to make juice using our traditional wooden press.

Bluebells in Thornton Wood

Do you like enthusing children?

We work with schools by giving guided tours of New Ferry Butterfly Park, going into schools to give talks or attending school nature events.

Show children how to build a bug hotel

Do you like meeting people or fundraising?

We attend events like Cool Heswall and Ness Nature Day and have an Open Garden afternoon at Poulton Hall. We have volunteer wardens at New Ferry Butterfly Park on Sundays from May to September.

The Wirral Wildlife stall at Ness Gardens Nature Day

Are you a local ‘Friends’ group? Do you want some wildlife advice?

We have members with experience who could help with surveys or ideas.

Do your skills lie in organising or communication?

Would you like to organise events or write newsletters or social media?


Our dedicated Wirral Wildlife volunteers do all these things and more. We are a busy, inclusive group and welcome anyone who wants to make Wirral richer in wildlife.

Send an email to info@wirralwildlife.org.uk or come to one of our talks (see the Events page on our website) and speak to one of us.

No prior experience necessary – just a desire to be involved. You would be made very welcome if you would like to join us.