Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
14th November 2020
Lots of Fun-gi
A few readers have been in touch to ask what they can do about the increasing number of toadstools on their lawns. The good news is that mushrooms and toadstools won’t grow in poor or nutrient-deprived soils, so they are an indicator of a healthy lawn and soil system.
You should never let your dog (or young children) eat them, so if that is a risk then it is best to pick them or mow them off, but other than that I would just leave them. They are prolific this year as it has been so mild and the ground is wet – their preferred conditions. Poor drainage will also provide mushrooms and toadstools with good growing conditions so, if they do bother you, you could try to aerate the ground to improve drainage. However, I’d be inclined to just leave them and they’ll die out once the weather gets colder. There is a chance that they will have sown spores by then, but that won’t necessarily mean you’ll be inundated next year, unless the conditions are perfect again.
Fungi grow in fascinating criss-cross formations both below the soil (and sometimes across its surface, as you’ll notice in woodland), literally ‘eating up’ the decaying organic waste material such as fallen leaves, twigs, and old grass cuttings. In exchange it releases essential and beneficial nutrients into the soil assisting in other plant growth. Recycling at it’s most basic but absolute best.
Forest Fun
For Yogi’s birthday last week, she and I made a maiden voyage to Wentwood Forest, between Newport and Chepstow. A fan of early starts, when we parked up the car park was empty but the forest was shrouded in with mist and low cloud. But 2 hours later, as we walked back to the truck, it all lifted and we were treated to amazing views of the Severn Estuary to take away with us as well.
Wentwood Forest is a huge area – 875 acres – owned by the Woodland Trust and with a great choice of wonderful paths for different abilities and levels of enthusiasm. At this time of year they were all strewn with brilliant, autumn-orange beech leaves, just like posh carpets, and the whole walk was just magical. The orange carpets will turn blue in the spring, as I’m told it is a great area for bluebells.
Over 70 species of bird and 23 species of butterfly have been recorded on site and a friend said we may be lucky enough to see deer too, but we weren’t. The mosses and ferns were magnificent though and there were also lots of different fungi to identify.
We parked in Cadira Beeches, which with Foresters’ Oaks, are the two main car parks and both are on the road from Usk. There are a number of other entrances, including Wentworth Gate, which is closest to bus routes and also to the ancient Curley Oak.
Sadly we didn’t manage to find the Curley Oak this time, but that gives us an excuse to go again. We did manage to find our way back to Morris’s Garden Centre in Usk, so I could buy Yogi a new ‘birthday bed’. Well behaved dogs are welcomed into the garden centre, so she could chose her own bed and we could both enjoy the café.
It was a fabulous day – and we won’t wait for a birthday to do it again.
You can find out more about Wentwood Forest at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/wentwood/ There is no charge to visit the forest, so why not visit the Woodland Trust website to see how you can support the fabulous work they do in other ways.
Bananas About Bacon
Did you know banana skins take up to 2 years to biodegrade? They are controversially seen as ‘litter’ when discarded by people who think they are ‘natural’ and will rot quickly.
So I was impressed recently, when a friend told me that a well-known chef uses them in a curry. Yup – the banana skins. Apparently they taste like aubergine when cooked. It’s a great way of reducing food waste even further and a good talking point. Years ago Mum was on medication which stipulated she mustn’t eat banana skins – I remember laughing about it then – who on earth ate banana skins anyway?
Surprisingly, they do have major health benefits, as they contain a large amount of B6, B12, and magnesium – all useful vitamins, particularly when going through the menopause. Trust me, I know, I’ve done the research!
To prepare them, simply put the banana skin in a bowl of boiling water and leave to cool. When cold, just cut up into pieces – or ribbons – and add to your curry.
Intrigued, I did a little research and found a recipe for vegan banana bacon too. You need the peel of very ripe bananas, cut them into four long strips, and scrape off any white stuff inside the skin so you are left with just the skin itself.
Make a marinade by mixing soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, and garlic powder together in a dish that will fit your banana peels easily. Marinade for at least ten minutes, although an hour or so is better, and then fry in a little oil in a hot pan until crispy.
It may sound bananas, and you certainly won’t get them confused with streaky bacon, but they’re not half bad as a substitute.
But if you still can’t bear the thought of eating the skins, then maybe try the old wive’s tale of burying them in the bottom of the hole when planting roses to improve the blooms. Who knows, they may grow on you!
Good article Lynne, I was there this week too and will return at some point – to find the curly oak 🙂