In article ,
"Russel Sprout" writes:
|
| The fungus look like fruiting bodies of dry rot.

Not to me, they don't. It is very hard to guess at fungi from just
a picture, but a quick glance at my books indicates that it might be
Dacrymyces deliquescens. See, for example:

http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/D...iquescens.html
http://mushroomobserver.org/name/show_name/599

And, yes, it's ash - and, until it is killed dead, it will be a
pain in the posterior and a thread to any adjacent brickwork.
Also, merely cutting it out once a year will not kill it.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.