Rare Pink Fungus Called the ‘Fairy Club’ Found in Mainland Britain for the First Time
Citizen scientists in England discovered a rare pink fungus never before recorded in mainland Great Britain.
Volunteers conducting a routine biodiversity survey in southwest England discovered a rare pink fungus species — Clavaria calabrica, known as the “fairy club” — that had never before been recorded in mainland Great Britain.
What they found
The discovery happened in autumn 2025 at Haydon Batch, a grassland site near the town of Radstock in southwest England. A group of everyday volunteers, not professional scientists, spotted the vibrantly pink fungus while cataloging organisms in the grassland.
The fungus is roughly the size of a tennis ball, with a distinctive pink hue that sets it apart from the more muted tones of typical grassland organisms. Its whimsical common name — the fairy club — matches its unusual appearance.
The volunteers were working with Somer Valley Rediscovered, a regional project focused on improving biodiversity and connecting communities to local landscapes. What was meant to be a routine effort turned into something far more significant.
Confirming the discovery
Verifying the find required a cross-country scientific relay. DNA from the specimen was extracted in Scotland and then sent to Aberystwyth University in Wales for sequencing. The analysis confirmed the fungus was Clavaria calabrica, a species previously recorded in Northern Ireland but never before confirmed in mainland Great Britain.
That confirmation rewrote what scientists knew about the species’ range in Great Britain. In a country with centuries of natural history tradition and some of the world’s most famous botanical gardens and research institutions, this species had been quietly growing in a grassland, unnoticed until now.
What the discoverers said
Dan Nicholas, a local enthusiast who led the mushroom survey, was clearly moved by the find. He told South West News Service, “This discovery further demonstrates that the South West is home to some of the most spectacular and diverse examples of these unique grassland fungi communities anywhere on the planet.”
Nicholas added, “We are truly blessed to have such a colorful spectacle of nature’s calendar right on our doorstep, something we need to cherish and protect at all costs.”
His words carry both scientific excitement and a sense of urgency. Something this rare had been thriving just steps from a local community, entirely unrecognized until a group of curious volunteers went looking.
Where the fairy club grows
Clavaria calabrica typically grows in grasslands that have been gently managed over long periods and support diverse wildlife. These are not intensively farmed fields or manicured lawns — they are landscapes allowed to develop slowly, with a light human touch.
The fairy club, in essence, flourishes where nature is given room to do its work. These are the kinds of habitats that reward patience and careful stewardship over time.
The bigger picture: citizen science at work
The discovery at Haydon Batch was part of a larger effort by the Somer Valley Rediscovered partnership, which includes local town and parish councils and focuses on biodiversity conservation and community engagement with regional landscapes.
The finding has also been highlighted in connection with the West of England Nature Partnership and a citizen science initiative known as the West of England Wildlife Index, which tracks wildlife across 20 sites in the region. These programs are built on the idea that ordinary people — not just credentialed scientists — have an essential role to play in understanding and protecting the natural world.
The fairy club discovery is powerful proof that citizen science can yield extraordinary results.
Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England Combined Authority, expressed pride in the finding. She said in a statement, “Finding a species never before recorded in Great Britain here in the West is something we can all be proud of. This shows again just how rich and unique landscapes across our region can be.”
Godwin added, “The work of the West of England Nature Partnership helps make sure these habitats are understood and protected. I encourage everyone to get involved in the West of England Wildlife Index, helping us record and safeguard the nature that makes our region so special.”
Conversation
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