Earlier this month, Heritage Conservancy hosted a Mushroom Identification Hike at our Croydon Woods Nature Preserve, one of the last remaining coastal plain forests in Pennsylvania. The event was co-led by Philadelphia Mycology Club and blended ecology and hands-on discovery, giving participants a new perspective on this unique habitat.
Croydon Wood’s Ecology and History
The program began with an introduction from Heritage Conservancy’s Conservation Biologist Sebastian Harris, who highlighted the ecological significance of our publicly-accessible 80-acre Croydon Woods Preserve. As one of the few remaining coastal plain forests in the state, this preserve is a refuge for biodiversity and is home to over 300 species of plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects, including endangered plant species. Some iconic coastal plain tree species you will find here include the willow oak and sweetgum.
In the 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency designated Croydon Woods as a Superfund site due to high levels of toxic materials in the soil, and cleanup efforts took place throughout the 1990s.
When Heritage Conservancy acquired the preserve in 2015, decades of illegal dumping and littering made it clear that the work was far from over.
Since then, with the help of dedicated volunteers and supporters, Croydon Woods has been transformed into a place where community members and students from the nearby Keystone Elementary School can connect with nature, learn outdoors, and experience the forest. It was also awarded the Excellence in Reuse Award by the EPA. You can learn more about our extensive cleanup of the woods here.
Fungi ID Walk
The walk was led by Daehan, a volunteer with Philadelphia Mycology Club, who stepped in for fellow mycologist (and president of the club) Sam at the last minute. As the group made their way through the preserve’s paths, Daehan pointed out mushrooms of all shapes and sizes, teaching participants how to identify them and sharing insights into their medicinal and culinary uses.
Whenever fungi were found growing on trees, Sebastian added to the discussion by identifying the tree species, emphasizing the interconnectedness of forests, and how fungi, trees, soil, and wildlife all depend on one another for survival.
Some Mushrooms from Croydon Woods
Some of their most exciting finds on the walk included:
Ganoderma species: Commonly known as Reishi mushrooms, you can find them on dead or dying trees, logs, or stumps. You can recognize them by their kidney-shaped or fan-shaped shiny red-brown caps.
Chicken of the Woods: Prized by foragers, this mushroom grows on trees, especially hardwoods like oak and poplar. Its vivid yellow-orange color and layered, shelf-like shape make it easy to spot. When harvested young, it’s not only edible but also prized for its savory flavor and firm texture, which resembles that of chicken, hence the name.
An enormous Berkley’s Polypore was also sighted. Found at the base of hardwood trees, these creamy-tan colored fungi start as a rosette shape and fan out with age. They can be pitted or rough in texture and velvety or leathery to the touch.
These discoveries showcased both the abundance of fungi in Croydon Woods and their vital role in keeping ecosystems healthy.
Events like the Mushroom ID Hike illustrate the importance of connecting people with nature through hands-on learning experiences. Croydon Woods Nature Preserve is open to the public year-round. To learn more about its history and ecological importance, visit our Croydon Woods page.