Would you believe it! A rare species of pale pink, fairy club fungus has been recorded in Great Britain for the very first time after being discovered at Haydon Batch, a species-rich grassland site near Radstock.
The discovery was made by a group of Naturewatch volunteers from Somer Valley Rediscovered on a course led by local enthusiast Dan Nicholas.
The tennis ball-sized fungus, known as Clavaria calabrica, was found during a Waxcap Watch survey in Autumn 2025 and has now been confirmed through DNA testing as the first recorded sighting of the species anywhere in Great Britain.
Waxcaps and similar fungi are a sign of rare, species-rich grassland. Recording where these fungi grow helps to identify surviving areas of ancient meadows so that they can be protected for the future. These grasslands are not just important for wildflowers and fungi; they also help keep soil healthy, support pollinators like bees and butterflies, store more carbon than intensively managed land, and play a key role in tackling climate change.
News of this fantastic fungi first highlights the importance of protecting and monitoring the West’s unique natural landscapes, and comes at a time when people in the region are being encouraged to take part in a citizen science programme tracking nature to contribute to the UK’s first regional Wildlife Index.
Clavaria calabrica is a small fairy club fungus that was first identified by scientists in Italy in 2017. It is usually found in grasslands that have been managed gently over time and are rich in wildlife. While the species has previously been recorded in Northern Ireland, this is the first time it has been confirmed in mainland Britain.
The fungus was discovered as part of the Somer Valley Rediscovered project, a partnership including Bath & North East Somerset Council, Radstock and Midsomer Norton town councils, parish councils, and other partners, which is funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. The project aims to improve biodiversity whilst better connecting communities to their local green spaces and landscapes.
The discovery also underlines the value of nature monitoring at a time when the combined authority is preparing to publish a regional State of Nature report, due in late Spring. The report will bring together evidence on the health of nature across the region and help shape future action on nature recovery.
Dan Nicholas said:
“Before making our discovery, we’d already had a successful morning recording 15 species of brightly coloured waxcap fungi. To top this off by finding a species new to Great Britain made for an exceptional day.
“Confirming the identification of the species was a nationwide effort, with DNA extraction being carried out by David Mitchel in Scotland, before being sent to the University of Aberystwyth in Wales for sequencing.
“This discovery further demonstrates that the South West is home to some of the most spectacular and diverse examples of these unique grassland fungi communities anywhere on the planet.
“We are truly blessed to have such a colourful spectacle of nature’s calendar right on our doorstep – something we need to cherish and protect at all costs.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Finding a species never before recorded in Great Britain here in the West is something we can all be proud of. This shows again just how rich and unique landscapes across our region can be. The work of the West of England Nature Partnership helps make sure these habitats are understood and protected. I encourage everyone to get involved in the West of England Wildlife Index, helping us record and safeguard the nature that makes our region so special.”
Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath & North East Somerset, said:
“Haydon Batch is a beautiful, unique space rich in biodiversity that the council manages with Radstock Town Council. Our Somer Valley Rediscovered volunteers and Cam Valley Wildlife Group care for and survey this special habitat and it is fantastic for them that this discovery has been made. Residents have been trained as part of this project and will continue to manage and monitor the site for years to come and who knows what species they will find in the future!”
Councillor Chris Dando, Mayor of Radstock Town Council, said:
“Radstock Town Council has been working with many local groups, experts and volunteers since the purchase of Haydon Batch in 2018. They have all been invaluable in understanding the many plants and species that call Haydon Batch their home. We are incredibly lucky to have so much support and an incredible space to share and explore. Our special thanks go to Somer Valley Rediscovered; without the support they have provided over the last four years, the discovery would not have been made.”
People across the region are being encouraged to take part in the West of England Wildlife Index, a citizen science programme tracking wildlife at 20 sites across the West of England, contributing to the region’s State of Nature report.
Volunteers are asked to help count bees, butterflies, plants and wetland birds as part of well-established national monitoring schemes, with guidance and support from the project’s ecologist. No specialist experience is required and full details of what’s involved are set out on our website.
