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.

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

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:

We have decided on Friday 18 March for this excursion. I will email details to al those who have expressed an interest so far. If anyone else wishes to come, please indicate in a comment below, or using the contact form.

Alan

Steve Chambers has suggested a LASW field day, in the form of a trip to Cadair Idris as a "montane taster". This would be open to as many of the "apprentices" as can make it. Steve has offered the following dates (all Fridays): March 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8. 

Could you let me know (either by email or in a comment below) if you wish to come and which dates you can make? We will need to have two alternative dates planned in case of inclement weather.

Alan

Thanks to Dave Genney at SNH the 2002 publication "Indices of Ecological Continuity for Woodland Epiphytic Lichen Habitats" by Sandy and Brian Coppins, is now available as a PDF online.

Brian recently posted the following comments on the Scottish Lichenology mailing list:

David Hill and Brian Coppins are running a set of courses at Bristol University in February 2011. These comprise a beginners identification course, one entitled "Learning more about lichens: an intermediate course" and finally a more specialised "Using microscopes for identifying lichens on limestone". Full details in the attachment.