King Alfred's Cakes.

Susan and I came across a fine show of King Alfred's Cakes fungi on an ash stump while out walking this week. Apart from the well-known legend where this fungus got its name, it can also be used as kindling to start fires. When dried out it will ignite from typically a flint spark and will continue to glow for a long time. Archaeological excavations have shown that it was used to start fires by people living over 7000 years ago and may have even been used in prehistoric times. It is thought that it was used to transport fire when people moved to a different location - an important survival tool!!