Rare fungus discovered in the New Forest for the first time
Candelabra Coral was thought to be extinct in the UK until recent years
Last updated 11th Nov 2025
A rare and elegant fungus has been discovered in the New Forest for the first time.
Candelabra Coral is known for its creamy white, crown-tipped branches and was thought to be extinct in the UK until recent years.
The fungus has now been spotted at at least six sites in the forest, which is already home to nearly three thousand types of fungi.
Experts say its sudden arrival is remarkable and are urging people to enjoy the sight but not pick it, to help wildlife and other visitors.
The discovery comes as part of a conservation project backed by over one million pounds of funding to restore habitats and boost biodiversity across the New Forest.
'Remarkable'
One of the discoveries was made by Professor Russell Wynn, Director of Wild New Forest, at a site that is part of the Species Survival Fund (SSF) project, which is led by the New Forest National Park Authority.
He said: "The sudden arrival of the Candelabra Coral in the New Forest this autumn is remarkable.
"We are already aware of at least six sites where it has been found in recent weeks. Given it is a relatively distinctive and identifiable species, it is unlikely that it would have been overlooked in the past.
"The arrival in the New Forest also parallels similar first appearances elsewhere in southern England, although the exact drivers are unclear."
Candelabra Coral is typically found on decaying deadwood, such as rotting beech and silver birch logs, and thrives in moist woodland environments.
The fungus, which can grow up to 10cm high, was thought to be extinct in the UK, with no records during the 20th century.
However, it was rediscovered in Suffolk in 2012, and in the last five years it has been recorded in at least 10 English counties - and now, that includes the New Forest, which hosts nearly 3,000 different species, about a quarter of the UK total of around 12,000 species.
SSF is a collaborative project involving five partner organisations working to protect and expand habitats from the Forest’s inner core to its outer edges and beyond, restoring land equivalent to 350 football pitches for nature.
The £1.3million scheme has seen wildflower meadows planted, ponds created, and heathlands and woodlands restored to allow a whole variety of species to thrive.
Wild New Forest has been carrying out wildlife surveys to generate a biodiversity baseline and identify priority species at different sites before work took place.
Russ said: "These survey data are being used to inform management actions delivered through the SSF project, including removal of non-native rhododendron to restore woodland habitats, which should increase the diversity and abundance of fungi and other species.
"The New Forest National Park is a national biodiversity hotspot with an estimated 20,000 species of animal, plant and fungus. Fungi are an important part of the ecosystem, so we ask people to look but don’t pick and leave fungi for wildlife and other people to enjoy."