LONDON, March 26 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

Visitors to England's National Nature Reserves (NNRs) now have even more reason to explore, after a remarkable discovery.

A fungus never recordedbeforein the UK, has been found atthe 150-hectareKingleyVale National Nature Reserve in West Sussex.It comes almost 20 years after a similar discoveryin Spain.

Blue-BasedEarthtongue,also known asMicroglossumcyanobasis,was spottedby a member of the public in the reserve's ancient yew woodland.

Liz Frost, thefungienthusiast who made the discovery, said:

I was so excited to stumble upon this extraordinary tiny, delicate tongueshaped fungus while exploring atKingleyVale National Nature Reserve.

Little did I know,I had just made the first ever UK sighting ofthe Blue-Based Earthtongue.

The fungusis hard to spot.Small, well-camouflaged, and easy to miss.It'sabout45-55mm tall with delicate,fragile stems. What makes this species stand out is its subtle bluish-green coloration, especially near the base. This tint is quite unusual among fungi and helps experts distinguishit from close relatives. The speciespartly gets its name fromcyanobasis, meaning blue base.

Thisexcitingfindserves as a reminder that these protected spaces still hold secrets, and that careful stewardship of the natural environment continues to yield extraordinary results.

Rachel Guy,manager of KingleyVale National Nature Reserve for Natural England, said:

The discovery of the Earthtongue fungusshows offhigh-qualityhabitats and highlights the value ofour224National Nature Reservesin England. These special places of exceptional ecological value are a credit to everyone who looks after them.  

The presence of the fungus signals undisturbed, nutrientpoor grasslands andlong-establishedwoodland soils. These environments are becoming increasingly rare due to fertilisation, drainage, ploughing, and land-use change.

The reserve sits within the South Downs National Park, near Chichester,andcontainsone of the finest ancient yew forests in Europe, with trees estimated to be at least 500 years old.

The reserve is open to the public. Livestock graze the siteyear-round, so visitors are asked to always keep dogs on a lead.

Background:

* Blue-BasedEarthtongue, or Microglossumcyanobasis, wasidentified with support from the British Mycological Society and confirmed via DNA sequencing. * Microglossumcyanobasis was first discovered innorthern Spain in 2009. * Read the blog here:A Rare Fungi Discovery at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve: The First UK Sighting of the Blue-Based Earthtongue - Natural England

* Natural England manages about two thirds of England's NationalNatureReserves. The remaining reserves are managed by organisations approved by Natural England. For example, the National Trust, Forestry England, RSPB, WildlifeTrusts, landowners,and local authorities. * KingleyVale NNR covers 150 hectares within the South Downs National Park, West Sussex. * Find your nearest National Nature Reserve at gov.uk * Spokespeopleareavailableon request.

Contact- Defra Group press office:Communications_SE@environment-agency.gov.uk/0800141 2743. Journalists only.

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