In a discovery as magical as it sounds, citizen scientists across the United Kingdom have unearthed hundreds of new sites hosting rare pink and purple fungi species so vibrant that they seem almost otherworldly. From quiet graveyards to misty sheep pastures and backyard lawns, these dazzling mushrooms—the pink waxcap and violet coral—are rewriting what we know about Britain’s hidden biodiversity. The discoveries were made as part of Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch, an annual citizen science survey that encourages people to spot and record grassland fungi. What began as a simple autumn activity has now blossomed into one of the UK’s largest biodiversity projects, bringing together ordinary nature lovers to protect extraordinary species.

Citizen Science: When Communities Become Scientists

The success of this initiative highlights a growing trend in citizen science, where everyday people join hands with experts to collect and analyze data. For Plantlife’s fungi survey, over 850 volunteers took part, exploring areas often out of reach for professional scientists, such as private gardens and local parks. According to Dr. Aileen Baird, Plantlife’s senior fungi conservation officer, the project wouldn’t have achieved such success without public participation. 

"People’s interest in fungi is definitely growing,” she said. “We wouldn’t have found these new locations without them.” Last year alone, more than 567 surveys were completed—a record number—revealing 300 new sites for the pink waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis) and 18 new sites for the violet coral (Clavaria zollingeri). Before this effort, just over 1,000 pink waxcap and 183 violet coral sites were known in the British Mycological Society’s database. The findings have now significantly expanded scientific understanding of where these delicate species survive.

Meet the Fungi: The Ballerina and the Violet Coral

The pink waxcap, often called the “ballerina waxcap” for its delicate pastel-pink cap that flares gracefully like a dancer’s skirt, is a sight to behold. It is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, placing it in the same global risk category as snow leopards and giant pandas. The violet coral, with its branching, coral-like form and intense purple hue, looks like something lifted from a tropical reef rather than an English meadow. Both species thrive only in special grasslands—ancient, nutrient-poor lands that have remained undisturbed for centuries.

Ancient Grasslands: The Fragile Homes of Hidden Life

The fungi’s survival depends on “unimproved grasslands”—areas untouched by modern farming methods such as plowing, fertilizing, or pesticide use. Unfortunately, such lands have been steadily disappearing due to urban development, intensive agriculture, and even tree planting in unsuitable areas. In other words, protecting these fungi means protecting the very last patches of Britain’s original, centuries-old grassland—an ecosystem that quietly nurtures countless species of insects, plants, and microorganisms.

Global Significance, Local Responsibility

Though these fungi are rare globally, the UK still holds a relatively high number of them. This gives Britain an international responsibility to protect their remaining habitats. The message is clear: biodiversity isn’t just something that happens in faraway rainforests or coral reefs. It thrives and sometimes struggles right under our feet. Beyond the data and scientific records, the project has a human connection with the natural world. 

Volunteers describe the joy of spotting a flash of pink or purple among the grass as something truly magical—a reminder of nature’s quiet persistence. For many, the experience becomes personal. It transforms a simple walk into a mission to protect what’s left of the wild. “The discoveries show that these threatened species aren’t confined to remote hillsides; they’re in our towns, churchyards, and gardens,” said Clare Blencowe from the British Mycological Society. “It’s a powerful reminder of how biodiversity exists all around us.”