They may look attractive, but these red and white mushrooms which have sprouted up in a Shropshire churchyard pack a deadly hallucinogenic kick.

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Dozens of these fly agaric fungi are growing around the graves at Rodington, between Shrewsbury and Telford, bringing a splash of autumnal colour to the village.

The fly agaric (amanita muscaria) is considered the quintessential toadstool, much loved by illustrators of children’s fairytales.

Although officially listed as poisonous, it has been famed for centuries for its hallucinogenic properties and has a religious significance in Siberian, early Indian and Scandinavian cultures.

The Hamlyn Guide to Mushrooms and Fungi says: “Its effects were pointed out by travellers as early as the 17th century.

“They noticed the men of some Siberian tribes either ate these mushrooms when dried or drank a potion prepared by boiling the caps and berries of bog whortleberry in water or milk.

“Symptoms of intoxication appeared in about 30 minutes and were later followed by pleasant visual hallucinations and daydreaming, lasting about an hour.

“The active constituents are passed into the urine or mother’s milk without any change.

“Therefore, when supplies of fly agaric were scarce, tribesmen drank their own urine for repeat performances.”

The common name of fly agaric, or fly mushroom, is thought to derive from its European use as an insecticide, sprinkled in milk.

John Hughes, Shropshire Wildlife Trust development manager, said the Roddington display was unusual after one of the worst seasons ever for mushrooms.

“We had all that rain in June and July and since then it’s been effectively a drought – which is exactly the opposite of what mushrooms like,” he said.

By Peter Johnson