King Alfred's Cakes

When I first saw these objects on a tree in Chatburn, I wondered if some mammal had climbed it in order to claim territory by evacuating a bowel. Contrary to appearance, this fungus has a grand name: King Alfred's cakes. The ninth-century Saxon King of Wessex was charged with supervising a widow's cakes while he was on the run from the Danes, but neglected them, for which he received a well-deserved scolding from the old woman. If they resembled the items in the photograph, little wonder she was annoyed, and put off the rest of her dinner.

Nevertheless, many kinds of insects and small animals make their home inside King Alfred’s cakes, while caterpillars of the concealer moth (harpella forficella) are known to feed on them. They are particularly important for the scarce fungus weevil (platyrhinus resinosus), as the larvae live and develop within their protective walls. So what appears rather revolting to us is rather nourishing for them. Trials and tribulations are unattractive, painful and leave an unpleasant taste, yet through them, we grow; by them, we strengthen. This is why the Good Lord allows them. 

When thro' the deep Waters I call thee to go,
The Rivers of Woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy Troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee, thy deepest Distress.

When thro' fiery Trials thy Pathway shall lie,
My Grace all sufficient shall be thy supply;
The Flame shall not hurt thee, I only design
Thy Dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old Age, all my People shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable Love;
And then hoary Hairs shall their Temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

-How Firm a Foundation, from Rippon's Selection, 1787