After spending so much time photographing lichens on Skomer during last year’s Orielton members’ course weekend, I wanted to take my burgeoning interest a little further. However, I soon found that I was biting off more than I could chew. The course introduced us to the main types of lichen, and then proceeded to break down these further into categories involving their reproduction.
I learned that one stage for the identification at species level Was to squirt potassium or caustic soda at them to see what, they change to. Others need to be identified using microscopic techniques. I found this quite daunting for someone who was inspire by lichens, life-cycle, by seeing them portrayed on an Open University television program in the 1990s.
We were given practical experience using both stereo and compound microscopes in order to view cross sections in the hope that we would be able to see both the algae and fungus making up the dissected organism. We were shown examples in the grounds of Preston Montford on living trees and, after lunch, we were treated to a short drive to Bicton church Where we will able to see lichens growing on walls, graves and stones in situ.
I felt that the course tried to convey too much in too short a time– a three-day course would have been more appropriate.