Unusual shiny mushrooms are emerging from the ground four months early because of the wet summer, it was revealed today.The autumnal weather has encouraged waxcaps, or Hygrocybe, to pop up in the Welsh countryside.

There are about 50 species, most of which have colourful caps that would not look out of place in a fairy tale. The National Botanic Garden of Wales, in Carmarthenshire, has meadows with more than 20 types of the fungi, growing up to 7cms in diameter.

They prefer sheep-grazed meadows which have not been ploughed or fertilised, Tim Bevan, an organic farmer and the garden’s estate manager, said.