Friends of Rising Sun Country Park

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Friends of Rising Sun Country Park Friends of Rising Sun Country Park are volunteers working together with NTC Park’s Team for the benefit of the park and its users.

This afternoon we had the pleasure of meeting George β€˜Geordie’ Graham and his son David. Geordie was a Countryside Warde...
22/10/2026

This afternoon we had the pleasure of meeting George β€˜Geordie’ Graham and his son David. Geordie was a Countryside Warden at Rising Sun Country Park with Northumberland Wildlife Trust in the early to mid-1980s.
Geordie shared memories of helping to establish some of the park's ponds, planting trees and introducing local school groups to wildlife through guided walks and activities. He and David also brought along a wonderful collection of photographs showing the park in its early days, as well as some stunning wildlife images.
One story that stood out was about a young boy who had helped Geordie plant trees at the park. Years later, the boy, now grown up, recognised Geordie and told him he had returned with his own children to show them the trees they had planted together.
It was a real privilege to hear Geordie's memories and look through the photographs with him and David. The park we know and love today owes much to the dedication of people like Geordie, and it was a pleasure to hear those early stories brought to life. Thank you both for sharing a fascinating piece of Rising Sun's history with us.

During this morning’s volunteer session, a bench was replaced near the entrance to Hadrian Wood. Over in the Centre-grou...
22/10/2026

During this morning’s volunteer session, a bench was replaced near the entrance to Hadrian Wood. Over in the Centre-grounds, the annual autumn battle with fallen leaves continued, with volunteers sweeping leaves from paths and clearing drains to help keep them free-flowing.

πŸ‚ A few weeks ago, for the autumn equinox, we featured Autumn Hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis) for  . As the clocks g...
21/10/2026

πŸ‚ A few weeks ago, for the autumn equinox, we featured Autumn Hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis) for . As the clocks go back this weekend and British Summer Time comes to an end, we're staying with the autumn theme and taking a look at what may be Autumn Hawkweed (Hieracium sabaudum) 🌼
Although their names and yellow dandelion-like flowers are similar, the two groups differ in appearance. Hawkweeds are taller and more robust plants than hawkbits. They have clusters of flowerheads on leafy stems, whereas Autumn Hawkbit is lower-growing, with single flowerheads on slender stems.
The plant we found was already mostly in seed; the main cluster had finished flowering but a few flowers remained open on a side branch. Its tall leafy stem and branched flowerheads suggest Autumn Hawkweed, though there are several similar hawkweed species that can be difficult to tell apart. Whatever its identity, it was a welcome reminder that there are still wildflowers flowering around the park as autumn progresses. πŸπŸπŸ‚

A quick wander around Hadrian Wood before volunteering this morning to see if any more fungi could be found for the Brit...
15/10/2026

A quick wander around Hadrian Wood before volunteering this morning to see if any more fungi could be found for the British Mycological Society's Find-a-Fungus citizen science project, which ends tomorrow.πŸ„πŸŒΏ
Fungi are still low in number, perhaps reflecting the recent dry weather, but two more target species were added to the overall list: King Alfred's cakes (Daldinia concentrica) and a very dried-out jelly ear (Auricularia auricula-judae). πŸ„
A few non-target species were also spotted, including common inkcaps (Coprinopsis atramentaria) and charcoal eyelash (Anthracobia melaloma), still fruiting in small numbers on burnt wood. 🌳πŸ”₯πŸ„

Every record helps, so it was good to add a couple more species before the project closes. πŸ„πŸ”πŸ“

Some lovely little critters posed nicely for the camera too: a stunning hawthorn shield bug and a tiny 22-spot ladybird πŸžπŸ’›πŸ“Έ

14/10/2026

Autumn is well under way, but there are still a few flowers brightening the grassland around Duke's Pond. Red clover, wild carrot, Michaelmas daisies, meadow buttercup, knapweed, yarrow, helianthus, oxeye daisies and field scabious were just a few spotted on a quick walk early this week.
The wildflower season has a little life left in it yet. πŸ‚πŸ’œπŸŒΌ

It was β€˜big coat’ weather for today’s Nature Discovery Walk. πŸ₯ΆπŸ§₯πŸ„We set out from the Countryside Centre for the British M...
12/10/2026

It was β€˜big coat’ weather for today’s Nature Discovery Walk. πŸ₯ΆπŸ§₯πŸ„
We set out from the Countryside Centre for the British Mycological Society’s Find-a-Fungus challenge, hoping to tick off some of the 20 target species. Fungi were fairly thin on the ground, but we still managed a few finds, including seven of the target species: birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), candle s***f fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon), fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), snowy waxcap (Cuphophyllus virgineus), tar spot (Rhytisma acerinum) and yellow brain fungus (Tremella mesenterica), as we enjoyed a gentle walk through Plantation Woodland.
We also searched grassland areas for CHEGD fungi (Clavarioids, Hygrocybe waxcaps, Entoloma pinkgills, Geoglossum earthtongues and Dermoloma powdercaps), finding snowy waxcap (Cuphophyllus virgineus), blackening waxcap (Hygrocybe conica), yellow club (Clavulinopsis helvola) and hairy earthtongues (Trichoglossum hirsutum). πŸ„β€πŸŸ«πŸ‚
We also spotted a few fungi that weren't on the target list, including Coprinopsis romagnesiana, a species similar to the common inkcap but distinguished by several scales on the cap, shaggy scalycap (Pholiota squarrosa), small staghorn (Calocera cornea), common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) and blushing bracket (Daedaleopsis confragosa). πŸ„πŸ˜Š

πŸ„ Nature Discovery & Wellbeing Walk - Fungi FocusπŸ„β€πŸŸ«Join the Friends on Monday 12 October for a relaxed Nature Discovery...
11/10/2026

πŸ„ Nature Discovery & Wellbeing Walk - Fungi FocusπŸ„β€πŸŸ«

Join the Friends on Monday 12 October for a relaxed Nature Discovery & Wellbeing Walk at Rising Sun Country Park.🚢

This month's walk will have a special fungi focus as we take part in the Find-a-Fungus challenge. We'll be seeing how many of the 20 identified species we can find around the park, and we'll be keeping a particular eye out for waxcaps - 'the jewels of the grassland'. Along the way we'll also enjoy whatever seasonal wildlife and nature discoveries Rising Sun has to offer.

πŸ“ Meet outside the Countryside Centre CafΓ©
πŸ•™ 10:00am to approximately 12:00pm
🚢 Gentle circular walk
πŸ’š FREE, no booking required
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦ Suitable for adults and families
πŸ• Sorry, no dogs

Please wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing.

Come along and discover what autumn has to offer at Rising Sun Country Park. πŸ‚πŸ„

πŸ„Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) is one of the most recognisable fungi, usually seen as a bright red to orange-red mushroo...
09/10/2026

πŸ„Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) is one of the most recognisable fungi, usually seen as a bright red to orange-red mushroom with white spots on its cap. Look for white gills beneath the cap, a white stem with a skirt-like ring, and a swollen base at ground level. Young specimens are enclosed in a white veil, which breaks apart as the mushroom expands, leaving the familiar white patches on the cap.
Despite its distinctive appearance, Fly Agaric does not always match the classic storybook image. Rain can wash the white spots away, and older specimens often fade to orange or yellowish-red.
The Big Fly Agaric Find is tomorrow, 10 October 2026. This citizen science project aims to record Fly Agarics across every region of the UK in a single day.
So, if you're visiting the Rising Sun tomorrow, see if you can spot a Fly Agaric, take a photo and upload your observation to iNaturalist, adding it to the project:
For more information, visit www.ukfungusday.co.uk/big-fly-agaric-find
πŸ„

🌼   Quiz 🌼Not all yellow flowers are buttercups... but can you tell which is which? πŸ‘€Match the flower names to the lette...
07/10/2026

🌼 Quiz 🌼

Not all yellow flowers are buttercups... but can you tell which is which? πŸ‘€
Match the flower names to the lettered photos.πŸ“·
Flower names➑️ Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata)🌻 Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna)🌻 Creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)🌼 Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris).

Some are spring flowers, some bloom later in the year, and one really is a buttercup!

How many can you match correctly? No cheating with plant apps! πŸ˜‰

Address

Rising Sun Country Park, Countryside Centre, Whitley Road, Benton
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE129SS

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