A forage in the forest

As the autumn arrives, the days get colder and the rain at the moment gets more frequent.

We like to wrap up warm and take in the most of the outdoors as possible.

We wanted to have a go at foraging/ identifying something a bit different today not our normal heist of berry, wild flowers, plants and birds. Honestly we are complete novices at it so always a bit worried at the thought of going to look for mushrooms we took the safe option of not trying to eat them with our limited knowledge, maybe when we know a bit more. They do loads of great tours and walks that are usually free with a professional who can easily identify the beasts maybe after one of those we will feel better about grabbing one to eat.  The year is winding down so whats a better time than to find out a little more about mushrooms and be able to identify some of them. 

With the forest floor covered in fallen leaves and fallen down trees it is an ideal time to hunt for the many different varieties of mushrooms. We will show you some of them we spotted. Hopefully we are able to identify the ones we found but don't judge us if they are completely wrong, its early days and it was a lot of fun trying. Defiantly takes your mind of the rain. 

Mushrooms can be shy little fellows they like to hide under the brush and often found under trees in damp dark conditions but when walking in the woods you will see them if your looking or in some cases you will smell them first.

The first mushroom we stumbled across is a very common one the sulphur tuft toadstool,

They can be found all year round but you will most likely see them anytime in April to December.

You will find them across the uk in woodlands and forests. they grow in groups on old decaying wood and tree stumps.  

This is a type of honey fungus there are several verities but this species attack and kill the roots of plants, they will often be found in woodlands and forests. this one was a devil to identify we were a bit worried about touching some of the ones we didn't no so was hard to be sure. Risky game this mushroom thing.

The stinkhorn lives up to its name and is indeed very smelly. We found it by the smell alone, (trust us, think old eggs) it emerges from an underground from an egg or sorts and gets its horrid smell from the "globa" a substance that covers the cap, this as we found attracts alot of flies. Its a very interesting and unusual one.

The angels bonnet is rather beautiful one it is found on tree stumps and fallen trees. you can find them in woodlands if you explore around tree stumps they look so delicate and are tiny at times.

This has been a little hard for us to identify but we believe it is either a Chanterelle or a False chanterelle hygrophoropsis. they can often be found in woodlands or sometimes in open fields and are found in small groups. Its not our favourite kind of reminds us of those skip crisps you have when your a kid.

This one is one we are not sure it maybe weeping widow but its not dark enough we think these can sometimes be found in your back garden. They look the most friendly but if it is a weeping widow it most defiantly is not.

This rather lovely looking fella is the butter cap it has a lovely name to go with its delacate cup like appearance. Being a very common mushroom you will most likely see it on your adventures in the forests.

After a long day of mushroom spotting and looking up the many hundreds of different species there are we had a look for other autumnal treasures you can find in the forest.

We are already scoping out holly for our christmas wreath

We love the way moss starts to cover tree stumps and fallen trees making a blanket across the forest 

And the leaves that cover the floors creating a patchwork quilt for us to walk on 

Once we had explored the forest we ended the day with a warm cup of soup overlooking the nearby fields. We still have a lot to learn about hunting mushrooms and identifying them but we hope this brief look into the world of the woodland floor will inspire you to go out and adventure to find these rather special and magical fungi. 

Please do leave any comments you have and if you do find anything you want to share hashtag us on Instagram sarahandthebearadventures

Halloween rice crispy pumpkins

The one thing we love is an excuse to celebrate, weather its christmas, easter, or halloween you will always find us making or baking sweet treats. 
We wanted to make some halloween inspired treats that you can make either at home or while camping. If your braving it in the uk right now you are our hero.

To make these rather tasty looking rice crispy pumpkins you will need 

3tbs Butter

100g Rice crispy's 

200g Marshmallows 

4 flakes chopped up for the stalks 

Orange food colouring

Half  tsp of Vanilla extract 

Step 1

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter into a saucepan until slightly brown, then add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract 

Step 2

Slowly start adding your marshmallows, we added 3 at a time keep mixing all the time to stop them sticking to the pan

Keep staring until they start to turn into what looks like cream make sure you turn off the heat.

 Step 3

Add a few drops of your orange food colouring into your marshmallow creamy creation

Step 4

Start to slowly adding the rice crispy's mixing together as you add

Keep mixing and adding, until you have all the crispy's coated with the marshmallow this bit is so hard not to eat... mmm. leave your mixture until cool enough to handle

Step 5

once they have cooled its time to get messy we would suggest putting a little oil on your hands or it gets messy. Take out your mixture and roll the mixture into your desired shape 

leave them on a plate to cool even more 

Step 6

Use a wooden spoon to create holes in the top for your stalks 

Step 7

Use your cut up flake as a stalk and push into the top. you now have your completed pumpkin treats you can add decorations with sweets or icing we personally like to keep ours just as they are.

we hope you enjoy your halloween inspired treats weather your camping or at home. 

 HAPPY AUTUMN. 

Royal leamington spa

As the cold weather and nights start drawing closer, the tents all packed away its time to start exploring closer to home.

 There are so many things to see and do on our doorstep that we had to give them the time they deserve.

Over the winter months we will be exploring our local Towns and villages to give our views of places to go and places to see.

First place we started is a favourite of ours, Royal Leamington spa.

The charming little town of Leamington spa is nestled in the Warwickshire countryside a 20 minuets  drive from the historic town of stratford upon avon and a 15 minuets drive from the city of Coventry.

There are a loads of shops we would recommend in leamington spa. A lot of them are independent and always full of interesting treasures to be found, or even something yummy.  

Swirls on Warwick street is an Italian ice cram parlour selling loads of delicious flavours of Gelato along with milkshakes, tea and coffee. We spent ages choosing a flavour, Sarah choose salted caramel and cookies. 

 If its real food we're looking for Livery street has plenty to choose from our favourite there is turtle bay. However if we had to make a choose our favourite place in leamington to eat. The White Horse serves lovely warming food in a unique setting. 

Jephson gardens is a beautiful park right at the bottom of the parade, its a perfect spot to eat a sweet treat or even meet a friendly squirrels. 

 If your looking for something more exotic there is the glass house inside the gardens it houses tropical plants and has its own restaurant and is a warm break from the cold outside.

Leamington has plenty of lovely architecture to drool over. we try and imagine who used to own them and what they would of been like. 

The old town hall building.

When we start to feel our blood sugar dropping, the only answer is tea. Or usually a cheeky cream tea.

Do not forget the hidden streets of the parade every nook and cranny holds another colourful treat for the eyes. 

 If you like vintage or anything retro we would recommend stopping by Blighty bazaar  located on Kenilworth street, everything in leamington is easy to get to on foot. 

Its full of vintage treasures and has been voted best vintage shop in the midlands.

 Berylune is a little shop located on Park street it is run by the loveliest ladies and is full of crafty goodness. Its got everything you could want if your a home or craft addict. kitschy vintage phone, lights, gifts. I defy anyone to not leave with something. 

If you are ever adventuring or exploring midland, Leamington spa is a lovely town to add onto your trip with its charming little local shops to its historic victorian houses it makes for a lovely stop.