Velvet Shanks (Flammulina velutipes) are a genuine Winter mushroom that don’t begin fruiting until December or even January. They grow on dead wood particularly the stumps of Elm, where they can be frozen solid by frosts but are still good to eat when they thaw. Often the clumps are small but occasionally Velvet Shanks turn up in profusion. Provided your specimens are young and fresh I find that their supposed toughness is overstated. Generally they are an ingredient, rather than a meal in themselves because of their small size.

Velvet Shanks are very recognisable because so few other fungi are fruiting (Judas’ Ears and Oyster Mushrooms being exceptions) but forage for them well outside the main mushroom season and check to make sure your specimens don’t have a hint of a ring, or they might not be what you think. If in doubt do not eat them.