U3A

CARDIGAN U3A recently welcomed Pat O’Reilly and Sue Parker, both renowned authors on the subject of flora and fauna, for a talk entitled Unexpected Flora, which was focused specifically on wild orchids and fungi. Sue talked about the rare orchids here in Wales. One of the rarest and tiniest in Britain is the Bog Orchid, found in the Elan Valley, near Rhayader.

Another jewel in Wales’ crown is the Fen Or-chid. On the Kenfig Nature Reserve, near Port Talbot, 90 per cent of Britain’s population of this particular orchid grows here with the other 10 per cent located on the fens in East Anglia.

Wild orchids can be found under bushes, in fields, on motorway roundabouts, or even unstable environments, such as sand dunes, where these pioneering plants can thrive.

The group was treated, also, to a presentation of poisonous and non-poisonous fungi. Pat revealed that there are 15 million species of fungi in the world. Each species can be identified by DNA analysis. The famous author Nicholas Evans (writer of The Horse Whisperer) had the misfortune to eat a Deadly Webcap mushroom, which mimics the Chanterelle; fortunately, the condition was recognised and treated swiftly, but he was lucky to survive the encounter, nevertheless.

One of the most magical, and delightful aspects of fungi growing patterns is the Fairy Ring. The biggest recorded Fairy Ring in the world is reckoned to be 2,500 years old.Both Pat and Sue hold a wealth of knowledge, and enthusiasm, on these, and many more flora and fauna topics, with a host of information on their website: www.nature-first.com.The next monthly meeting of Cardigan U3A will be tomorrow (Thursday) from 2pm to 4pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, North Road. The talk will be by Christine Harrison, of the Gwili Railway. New members are always welcome.