Lichen Apprentice Scheme Wales

We are proposing a day looking at saxicolous lichensat Roundton Hill SSSI, which is near Churchstoke in Monts. (32/292949). The leader will be Alan Orange from the National Museum Cardiff. More details to follow.

The field meeting here on 28 October, led by Neil Sanderson, was a great success. Ten people turned up for the event, and (provisionally) 12 taxa were added to the list for the site, three of these were new to the vice-county (Montgomeryshire) and two were new to Wales. One of the latter (Enterographa sorediata) is a UK BAP priority species.

Neil also discussed the characteristics and management of pasture-woodland and the importance for lichens of having a wide range of niches - facilitated by a varied tree age structure (at Gregynog there is a range from relatively young  to very mature trees, to standing and fallen dead trees). "Intra-tree" variation is provided by factors such as leaning trunks, aspect, wound-weeps etc. 

Read the full report from Neil Sanderson

View a set of photos by Tim Wilkins from the visit.

Just a reminder that this is taking place tomorrow, Friday 28th October. We are meeting at the car park at Gregynog, near Newtown, Monts., at 10.15 am. I have emailed all apprentices with details, but please let me know if you haven't had these and would like them.

Alan

This event, which will focus on parkland/pasture woodland lichens, is planned for 28 October, under the leadership of the experienced and respected lichenologist, Neil Sanderson. More details shortly.

I've arranged with Steve Chambers for a LASW field day on Snowdon on either Thu 22nd or Fri 23th of September. Steve wants to keep the date flexible either to allow us to choose the better day weather wise or if most apprentices have a particular preference. The plan would be to meet at Pen y Pass (Grid ref SH64735562) at 9.30am and spend time in Cwm Dyli, preferably fairly high up and possibly below Clogwyn y Garnedd, the large cliff area below the summit of Snowdon. Obviously the final locations depend on weather conditions. There are areas of base-rich rock at lower altitudes which could be visited if the weather is unsuitable for higher levels.

Meet 10.00am at the SNP car-park at SH697152, just on from Llyn Gwernan, for the N. side of the mountain. 

just in case anyone is interested: Maplin are selling 400x USB digital microscopes for £39-99. Offer ends 22nd March.

 I just got emailed a link to http://www.ispot.org.uk:8080/webkeys/index.jsp

where there are some quite nice looking simple computer keys to Lichens. Might be worth a look?

The Orielton Field Studies Council Centre near Pembroke are running three introductory lichen courses this year. A five-day course (led by Dr. pat Wolseley) is due to be held during the 9-13 April;  and (as a new initiative) two one-day courses are planned for the 18 March and 26 August (tutors Dr. Pat Wolseley and Dr. Robin Crump). The one-day courses are offered at the very special rate of £20 each.

Full details of each these courses are attached: