Rufford Colliery: Rare fungus found in England for first time

Sarcoleotia globosa has a black cap the size of a pin and has been found previously on "coal spoil' land in Ireland and Wales

A rare fungus which measures just a centimetre high has been found in England for the first time.

Naturalist Tim Sexton first spotted the sarcoleotia globosa fungus at the former Rufford Colliery, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in 2022.

But he needed to send samples to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew for confirmation and all traces of it had vanished by the time he returned.

He then finally found more of the fungus at the site in October.

Sarcoleotia globosa has a cap which is the size of a pin and Mr Sexton said it proved difficult to find on his return visit.

Tim Sexton spotted the fungus in 2022, but then discovered he needed samples to verify his find and needed to return.

"I was thrilled to find such a rare fungus during a survey of the former colliery at Rufford," said Mr Sexton, who surveys Rufford Colliery as a volunteer, but works as the senior species and recording officer at Rutland Water Nature Reserve.

"The heathland which has been created there since coal mining ended in the early 90s has become a haven for many different species of wildlife and this amazing find is a testament to that.

"When I realised the significance of the find, I sent the record to the County Recorder for fungi in Nottinghamshire, Howard Williams, who told me it would need to be confirmed by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew before it could be added to the English fungi database.

"Trying to re-find such a small fungus, which has a pin-sized black cap, on a site covered in small fragments of coal spoil was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. But I'm glad I persevered."

Mr Sexton said finding the fungus on his return visit in 2023 was like trying to find "a needle in a haystack"

He added: "It had to be sent off to Kew to be tested and DNA checked, and then when that was all confirmed it could be added to the fungi database for the UK."

Sarcoleotia globosa has never been recorded in England before, but has been recorded once in Wales and once in Northern Ireland - both times on land which had been dug out of coal mines.

The find was confirmed as a first for England by Dr Paul Cannon, an Honorary Research Associate at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.