An unnaturally late first frost across the UK means magic mushroom hunters could be in line for a remarkable natural high this year.
Psychedelic mushrooms may still be in bloom on New Year's Day, as the subzero temperatures that would normally have appeared by this time of year are yet to arrive.
Owing to the warming climate, the first autumn frost arrives up to a fortnight later across the south-west of England and south Wales than it did 50 years ago, considerably extending the mushroom season -- but 2018's cycle could be unprecedented.
"Climate change has had a dramatic effect on the fruiting season," says Prof Lynne Boddy, a fungal ecologist. "Every year the start and end of the season is dependent on the weather, and we can see that up until the late 1970s it was largely consistent.
"However, on average, the first fruiting date now comes much earlier in the year than previously, while the last fruiting comes later."
