Walking the Ouse Burn Part 2: ‘Fabulous Fungi’

Ellie and James ready to go!

Following my exploration of the Lower Ouseburn, it was time to venture further upstream. For the second instalment of my Ouse Burn series, I once again teamed up with NHSN’s Clare Freeman and James Common, this time tracing the waterway from Jesmond Vale, through Armstrong and Heaton Park, and on towards Benton Bank. This leg of the journey promised a new perspective on the burn’s diverse habitats and rich history.

A Mycological Winter Wonderland… and Unexpected Surprises!

We began our walk along Ouseburn Road, and almost immediately, we were greeted with some fantastic fungi – my favourite! I was prepared for a few hardy winter specimens, but what we found was amazing in such a short section of our walk. First up was the Velvet Shank, a true winter specialist. This amazing little mushroom produces special antifreeze proteins that stop ice crystals forming inside their cells, allowing them to thrive even in freezing temperature. We also spotted Silver Leaf Fungus, a beautiful but pathogenic purple crust fungus which favours fruit trees such as plums and cherries, the bizarre looking Black Bulgar, a mushroom that favours felled Oak and Ash trees and is thought to be on the rise due to the increase in felled Ash from ash dieback disease, and Warlock’s Butter, a glistening black jelly fungus.

Adding a splash of unexpected colour was a single, delicate Herb Robert flower. There were also a few determined Dandelions bravely growing out from a wall. As we continued on, we spotted a rather unexpected species for our list – E.T. the extraterrestrial! He kept a close eye on our progress by peering out from behind a wall, a reminder that you never know what you might find on an urban nature walk!

Jesmond Vale: An Urban Gem

Our journey continued into Jesmond Vale, a beautiful pocket of ancient woodland. The name itself, “vale,” meaning “wooded valley,” perfectly reflects the landscape, where steep slopes have likely shielded it from the surrounding urban sprawl. Despite being nestled within a busy area of Newcastle, the noise from the city quickly faded away and was replaced by the songs of Blackbird, Robin and Song Thrush. This was my first time visiting this urban green space, but it certainly won’t be my last.

The woodland was a fungi lover’s dream: we found the beautifully colourful Coral Spot, the largest Jelly Ear I have ever seen, False Turkey Trail, Turkey Tail, Birch Polypore, and the strikingly coloured (and fantastically named) Yellow Brain. Other finds included Blushing Bracket (so named due to the ‘blushing’ colour change when bruised), more Velvet Shanks, Candlesnuff, Honey Fungus (identified by its bootlace-like rhizomorphs), Tar Spot on Sycamore leaves, and a Psathyrella species. Fantastic finds for mid-winter!

Heaton Park: Winter Blooms and Iconic Trees

As we made our way into Heaton Park, we saw two familiar winter flowering plants starting to emerge. Winter Heliotrope carpeted the banks. Though not native, this fragrant plant has found a niche here. Introduced to the UK from the Mediterranean in the early 1800s as an ornamental plant, it has since escaped and become naturalised in Britain. Interestingly, only male plants are thought to be present in Britain and so there are no seeds, it can only spread by rhizomorphs. Another non-native but a favourite of many – Snowdrops were also beginning to emerge! Originally from Europe, Snowdrops were introduced to Britain centuries ago and their flowers have become a beloved marker of the coming of spring.

Our exploration continued to the historic Heaton Pear Tree, a remarkable survivor and a tangible link to the park’s past. Donated to the city in 1879 by Sir William Armstrong, this beautiful tree stands as a testament to Newcastle’s industrial heritage. We also admired the Armstrong Park Sycamore, affectionately dubbed the “Shoe Tree.” The quirky community tradition of flinging shoes into its branches has transformed the tree into a unique piece of living art and local folklore, even getting a mention in Julia Darling’s novel The Taxi Driver’s Daughter.

Changing Rivers

As we followed the Ouse Burn northward, we were reminded of ecosystems are far from static. The natural meander of this section of the Ouse Burn was dramatically altered by Storm Babet in 2023. The storm had caused the burn to forcefully burst its banks, and a new channel was carved, reshaping the local environment.

Storm Babet damage

Challenges of Nature in Urban Environments

Further upstream, we approached one of Newcastle’s most polluted areas – the Corner House junction on the Coast Road. Here, despite high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from constant traffic, nature demonstrated remarkable resilience. Liverworts, mosses, and lichens formed vibrant green mosaics on stone and tree bark, a defiant display of nature’s resilience.

Looking Ahead

This exploration of the Ouse Burn, from Jesmond Vale to Benton Bank, revealed a remarkable blend of nature, history, and community that defines this urban waterway. I’m looking forward to continuing my journey and sharing more discoveries along its banks.

To read more about the work being done as part of the Ouse Burn Way, please click here.

Ellie Davison
Urban Naturalist

 

Ellie works as Urban Naturalist at NHSN, where she is focuses on engaging the community with the wildlife of Newcastle and North Tyneside. Her role is funded by the Reece Foundation as part of The Ouse Burn Way project. Outside of work, she is passionate about many areas of ecology, particularly botany and fungi (with much of her house dedicated to growing both).