Looking for lichens

Jenny Tweedie

Scotland’s rainforest is bursting with amazing lichens. Hundreds of species can be found here, some of which are very rare elsewhere.

But identifying them can be tricky. They’re very small, some of them tiny, and you need to get in close, often with a magnifying glass, to see them properly. Some look alike, some look different depending on their age, and some change appearance depending on whether they’re wet or dry.

In fact, to really understand what you’re looking at, you need to have studied these lichens for years… or be in the presence of someone who has. These people are few and far between, but Plantlife Scotland’s Oliver Moore, is one of them.

I was lucky enough to meet up with Oliver last October, and visit Ariundle National Nature Reserve, just a short drive from Strontian. Here’s a short clip of him looking at the lichens on just one tree, and it’s incredible the number of species he finds!

Quick note! The video plays twice, not sure why…