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Wednesday 18 July 2012

Berwick-upon-Tweed May 2012

Berwick-upon-Tweed, May 2012

Berwick-upon-Tweed is the most northern town in England and lies 2.5 miles south of the English Border.

I had passed through Berwick-upon-Tweed on the train, many times, over the past 20 years, when on my way to Arbroath in Scotland.   Promised myself that I would visit 'one day'.  So, at long last, I had got around to arranging a four day stay.

I had struck very lucky with the accommodation (Northumbrian House).  The care and hospitality given by Ian the proprietor was first class.  Hidden amongst the towels in my room on arrival was a small bar of chocolate, and every day the biscuit tin on the mantle piece was stocked with fresh delicious cookies.  Wonderful and welcoming after I'd spent hours tramping around Berwick.  The breakfast was fit for a king!
Just the job for active people like myself.  The porridge was served with an optional extra of a dram of whiskey! which I welcomed on my final day.

The weather was kind to me, a reprieve from all the rain the previous weeks.  This allowed me to explore, walking along the River Tweed and around the historical ramparts.  No fungi to be seen until I walked along the beach and decided to explore the grass on the edge of the sand.  After a few hours of searching I managed to find a single Bolbitius vitellinus (Yellow Cow-pat Toadstool).  This was young and well hidden amongst the tall grass.  Previously, a few years prior, I had found a single mature B vitellinus which was at the very fragile stage and in fact as soon as I'd taken the photo a big dog mowed it down.

Another find during the early weeks of May included Agaricus urinascens possibly.  Difficult to be certain but the cap did have large ochraceous patches and smelt like almonds. 

These can now be seen on Browse 4.