efog-blog
Recent outings and activities...
On the Waterfront - two visits to the Regent's Canal
Taking advantage of some very agreeable autumn weather, EFOG members decided to hit the waterways of London for some history and a nice walk. On 25th September, two groups descended on to the London Canal Museum’s premises for some history and, as it turned out, a bit of unexpected culture!
The museum is housed in an old ice house sited at Battlebridge Basin on the Regent’s canal, so as well as a history of the canals of Britain, the lives of the canal boat people and their particular traditions, the museum also has a brief history of the ice trade and its various customers. Upstairs there is a lot more information about the power tools of the canals – horses and locks and how they worked. The day we visited there was also a very interesting exhibition on the history of the River Lea – our ‘home’ river so to speak!
Many of the Efoggers also took the opportunity to show of their artistic skills and add to a tableau of ideas about how the canals would be used in the future. We were in good company, as the event had been started with a drawing from Quentin Blake, the famous illustrator. Various themes developed from bicycle-powered steamboats, solar powered canals boats and even a return to the humble paddle and canoe.
While one group looked around the first half of the party boarded the Tarporley for a trip downstream through the Islington tunnel. Opened in 1820, as our guide explained, the tunnel is ¾ of a mile long and was originally operated by ‘legging’ the boat through the tunnel, there being no towpath for the horses to use. There was then an upgrade to the use of a steam tug to pull several boats at a time, which lasted until 1926. Canal boats nowadays though have engine power. Once through the tunnel we turned in the basin above the lower lock and came back again ready for the next group to board.
As we enjoyed the trip so much, a walk was planned of the northern section - the upper seven miles of the Regents Canal, for October 15th. Once again we were very lucky with the weather and 14 members of the group set off up the Mile End Road to pick up the towpath. Unbeknownst to us however, group member number 15 missed us and somehow joined the towpath slightly ahead of the group. She very determinedly completed the whole journey in 3 ½ hours, way ahead of the rest of us!
Before we reached the canal towpath, Paul Ferris gave us a very nice explanation of the Green Bridge,which provides a continuous green route for cyclists and pedestrians between the parklands either side of the Mile End Road, and how this broad green strip linking industrial Limehouse to Victoria Park was originally planned for 18th century workers to provide a relief and a lung from the conditions in which they lived and worked. We reached the towpath, and after admiring a very large heron, we set off. Our first stop was a canal-side café near Hoxton, which we providently came upon after having been forced to detour off the canal because construction work had closed the towpath. The tunnel at Islington also forces a detour, as there is no towpath, so the route took us through Islington’s Chapel Market - following the blue canal-wave dots on the pavement - and past a wedding at the environmental church. We then waved to the canal museum’s Battlebridge Basin on our way to lunch at Camden Lock. The market was in full swing and slowed matters on the towpath quite a bit, but it did prove to be the gateway to the peaceful realms of Regents Park and a sighting of some Jackals in London Zoo. From here it was a straightforward walk up to the next tunnel where we went overland again to link up with the towpath at Little Venice. The day ended with a nice tea stop at the canal boat café and a nap for Katy the EFOG dog!
Sue U., 28 October 2011
Saturday 24 September - EFOG Fungi Hunt
A mild and sunny autumn morning saw a group of us following local naturalist Tricia Moxey into Bury Wood (part of Epping Forest) to look for fungi - a follow-up to her recent Thursday night talk at EFOG.
Skirting the edge of the wood at the start, we admired the dark blue sloes on the blackthorn and some late butterflies as well as a newly-arrived species of the bright yellow-flowered ragwort - Narrow-leaved Ragwort. Then we were in the wood where, despite the dry weather, Paul quickly found our first fungus beside a hornbeam tree. We were soon spotting them with ease: hidden singly or grouped in the long grass, growing in a troop on tree stumps and fallen logs, and even high up on still living trees. There were puff balls, amethyst deceiver, parasol and bracket fungi, to name just a few - mainly small but in a wide variety of colours and textures.
The picking of fungi is not allowed in Epping Forerst, but we were happy to just look and marvel, leaving them intact for the benefit of the wildlife. Not only do many fungi enjoy a symbiotic relationship with their chosen tree species, but they also benefit many wild creatures. Indeed we learnt that at some times of the year fungi are the principal food source for the deer of Epping Forest. However, it is usually possible to find some that have been half-eaten by animals or simply knocked over, so we were able to examine these more closely.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable morning from which we all came back a little more knowledgeable than before. Many thanks Tricia!
Susan B., October 2011
As was mentioned above, we looked at a few aspects of wildlife other than fungi. The Narrow-leaved Ragwort supplements the two other common species of ragwort in the area: Common Ragwort, which is native and Oxford Ragwort which originates from the slopes of Mount Etna. The "new" one comes from southern Africa, and in 1997 was known only from one site in Kent. We also looked at some duckweed whilst Tricia was telling us about the horse-trough by Bury Wood! The butterflies that we saw were Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood.
Paul Ferris, October 2011
Tricia has sent us a list of the fungi which we found:
List of fungi noticed during EFOG walk on 24 September 2011 Bury Wood Chingford. These are listed in order of observation.
English name |
Latin name |
Comments |
Oak mildew |
Erysiphe alphitoides |
White powdery covering on oak leaves – noticed, but not mentioned to walkers |
Brown Roll Rim |
Paxillus involutus |
Under Hornbeam tree – symbiotic fungus – not edible |
Puff ball |
Lycoperdon pyriforme |
Small puff balls scattered on the ground |
Ochre Brittle Gill |
Russula ochruleuca |
Symbiotic toadstools associated with broad leaved trees |
Purple Brittle Gill |
Russula atropurpurea |
ditto |
Amethyst Deceiver |
Laccaria amethystina |
Small lilac coloured edible toadstool in leaf litter |
Fairy Bonnet |
Mycena inclinata |
Clustered on dead wood – slightly woolly at base of stipe |
Candle Snuff |
Xylaria hypoxylon |
Black fingers sticking up on dead wood |
Sulphur Tuft |
Hypholoma fasciculare |
Yellow troops of toadstools on rotting wood |
Blushing Bracket |
Daedaleopsis confragosa |
Bracket on dead wood which turns pink when squashed |
Orange Moss Cap |
Rickenella fibula |
Very small orange toadstool amongst moss on rotting log |
Zoned Polypore |
Trametes versicolor |
Small overlapping brackets on dead wood with concentric rings of different colours |
Deceiver |
Lacaria laccata |
Small brown toadstool in leaf litter |
Puff Ball |
Lycoperdon perlatum |
On rotting wood, white at first covered with warts which fall off as it matures |
Charcoal Brittle Gill |
Russula cyanoxantha |
Dark grey |
Big Jim Spectacular Rustgill |
Gymnopilus junonius |
Parasitic tufted fungus on roots of broadleaved trees – large orange toadstools |
Shaggy Bracket |
Inonotus hispidus |
Large bracket on Ash tree , which causes internal decay in trunk |
There were probably many more to be found, but I guess that was sufficient to the session! We could have spent longer searching, but the dry conditions not to mention the general scuffing of the ground does make finding any toadstools a bit of a challenge!
In addition we looked at a couple of lichens, which I think were Hypogymnia physodes clustered on twig and the other more dangly foliose one was Evernia prunastri
Tricia Moxey, October 2011
EFOG members vist the 2011 Edinburgh Festival
Train-wise Efoggies met at Kings Cross Station for our trip to Edinburgh to sample the delights of the annual festival. Canny Ken Kennedy had arranged 1st Class tickets to Edinburgh with breakfast included both ways for £50 each; to say we all enjoyed this level of service was an understatement...
Upon arrival we made our way to university student accommodation which included a kitchen and common room. We spent Friday exploring the city and checking out what was on offer. There was a great deal as it turned out - the choice of shows comedy, theatre, and music was bewildering. The city was packed with revellers and our evening meal - a curry - took some finding: all restaurants were full.
A bright sunny Saturday saw the gang delving into the National Museum of Scotland, followed by an impressive Shakespeare (sort of) production which we all enjoyed. More comedy shows followed, both on the free fringe - which were a trifle bizarre - and paid-for shows which were on a professional level.
Lovely day on Sunday and we climbed to Arthurs' Seat and listened to a flute-player at the summit. After an excellent brunch we hit the free fringe again for more comedy followed by “NewsRevue”, a show depicting the news from this year in the form of comic sketch's, dancing, and amusing songs. My favourite was the “World of One”, with the Queen giving dearest Kate a bit of a drubbing! Din-dins was a Weatherspoon pub with the rudest waitress on the planet (ask Ken, who had the temerity to ask her to order some food!) Nevertheless, we enjoyed some tasty pub-grub before we became night owls and proceeded to a nearby comedy club to be entertained by Paul Sinha, an ex-junior doctor and lately – a stand-up comedian. His material was drawn heavily on his sexuality, ethnicity, and much-bullied school days. Ho hum.
Another fine day on Monday (I couldn't believe it was Scotland!) saw us boarding the train back to London to be plied with endless refreshments including wine for a restful return home.
As Arnie would say, "I'll be back".
Dave T. 25th August 2011
Visit to the Markfield Beam Engine
Sunday 24th July saw intrepid Efoggies making their way in brilliant sunshine to the Markfield Recreation Ground to view the Markfield Beam Engine in operation. In its day, the beam engine pumped away most of the human waste from the Tottenham area, quite an achievement in Victorian times.
This was a combined cycling/walking event, and I met with Sue B, Jim, Ian, and Chris at the ROVSCO Hall for a pleasant ride through old Walthamstow, across the Walthamstow Marsh along the tow path to the recreation ground.
The walkers joined us at the cafe for well earned tasty treats before we all viewed the impressive beam engine and spoke at length to the volunteers attempting to fire it up!
Unfortunately, due to technical reasons, they were not able to start the engine so after viewing the various stalls on site (Sue got some useful maintenance carried out to her bike by the London Cycling Campaign!) we set off to Stonebridge Lock for further refreshments. After lunch the cycling group returned to the Prince of Wales pub on the banks of the River Lea for a well earned pint. Special thanks to Sue B for suggesting alternative routes to and from our destination.
Another great EFOG day out.
Dave T
Cycling/walking/camping weekend 16/17th July 2011
Well, weather was forecast and weather we got! The first contingent of 5 walkers & cyclists arriving at the Brighthouse Farm campsite on the Friday enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon and evening . Val even demonstrated her newly acquired cycle maintenance skills by mending several punctures on her bike. Then overnight the rain arrived.
We were ready to leave home early on the Saturday morning when disaster struck. I closed the front door then realised the bunch of keys I was clutching was not my house & car keys as I thought but a bunch of Copped Hall keys. Major panic! A frantic phone call to Parviz and he nobly drove up with his Yellow Pages and after several phone calls we located a locksmith who could come out at short notice. Parviz departed and we sat and waited. Eventually the guy turned up and opened our front door with alarming ease, leaving us £85 poorer. So eventually we were on our way to pick up Parviz plus bike and get to the campsite 2 hours late.
Here we pitched our tents in the rain and found everyone else in Bill & Inger’s large tent and showing a definite reluctance to emerge. Several cups of tea later we summoned some efog spirit and decided we would do a shorter route than intended and cycle to Lavenham. Taking advantage of a slight lull in the downpour the cyclists set off, the slight lull then immediately ceased. Once on the road though, cycling in the rain is not too bad. We arrived in Lavenham and made for the National Trust tearoom at the famous Guild Hall. Here they gave us a space to pile our wet gear and let us in for some lunch. The walkers met up with us here (by car!).
Maz & Peter left for home while, replenished, we started the return journey via several garage sales in the town where Inger purchased things for her schools and Duncan bought a sort of red parrot (don’t ask!).
Back at the campsite later, the rain actually stopped and most of us cooked outside, while Ian & Susan took the footpath to the pub, and we were able to appreciate the beautiful view from the site.
Next day, we packed up camp and the walkers departed to walk. The cycle ride from the campsite began & finished in sunshine. However, in between, the rain varied between light & deluge which meant many sprints to find trees to shelter under. This, plus a puncture (Val’s bike) which had to be mended twice because the patch didn’t stick, meant we didn’t quite reach our destination of Ickworth House and so stopped at Chevington for lunch where most of us ate our sandwiches in a bus shelter while Val treated herself to a slap up lunch in the pub. We finally gave in and joined her for some hot soup. The return ride via many pretty lanes was more of the same weatherwise but by now we were immune to wetness. At least it was dry at the finish to load up the bikes.
Despite all, I think everyone enjoyed the weekend. Something to do with ‘triumphing over adversity', I think!
Ann