Biodiversity Northern Ireland

Lichen Apprenticeship

In 2008 Alison Meredith undertook a Lichen apprentice based in Northern Ireland at part of the Natural Talent Apprenticeship Scheme.

Alison's apprenticeship involved placements with the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR), the Ulster Wildlife Trust and the National Trust for Northern Ireland where she spent 6 months studying lichens. The placement involved three major projects which were studying Cladonia lichens in the dune heath at Murlough, tree lichens at Crom and lichens of trees and garden ornaments at Rowallane.
    
Alison describes some of the lichens at Rowallane "Rowallane House and Garden are rather better known as the National Trust Regional Office for Northern Ireland rather than as a lichen hotspot. During my placement here I have discovered, over many lunch-time meanders around the house, buildings, and maze of footpaths, an interesting diversity of lichen species reflecting the varied habitats present in the grounds. In the 1970s a lichenologist from the Ulster Museum recorded 49 species of lichen present within the grounds. I am pleased to say that I have managed to find many of those that were on his original list. My favourite find to date has been Hypocenomyce scalaris. Unfortunately most visitors would not notice it as it is composed of many tiny brown overlapping scales each just a few millimetres. It is well camouflaged too even though it covers a large area of bark on one tall pine tree. It is not considered a rare lichen, but there are only a handful of records for it in Northern Ireland. More obvious are the green-grey leafy lichens covering large areas of tree trunk and twigs. They are especially found on the native oak and ash trees in the car park, but also on the exotic Acers in front of the house and a Viburnum tree in the Walled Garden."
    
The Scheme has been both beneficial for Alison and for The National Trust.  There is now a greater understanding the variety of lichens that occur on National Trust properties, their importance and crucially how best to conserve them.