Wednesday 31st August 2022

13.00 - 14.30

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5NZ

A guided walk led by Rebecca Yahr, RBGE Lichenologist and BLS Past President.

The walk is a joint promotion of RBGE and the British Lichen Society 

This event is free, but please register with Eventbrite so the organisers know the number attending

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lichens-for-all-guided-tour-tickets-401227832247

Lichens are all around us all the time, but often go unnoticed. In Scotland, they are an important part of our natural heritage which RBGE has long worked to understand and protect.

This walk is part of a month-long commemoration of the life and work of the late Frank Dobson, author of the main UK lichen field guide and the man who provided a gateway into lichens for so many. His book, “Lichens: An Illustrated Guide to British and Irish Species,” now in its seventh edition, has been instrumental in teaching lichens to generations of students in Britain and beyond. If we have any ambitions for the day, it is to encourage lichen lovers of all abilities to come together with Dobson and learn a few species in the Garden.

Wessex Lichen Group meeting

Lichen Meeting to The Wildground Nature Reserve, Gosport

Friday 26th August 2022 at 10.30

Leader: Neil Sanderson, email: neilsand1@mac.com

The site is a relict pasture woodland with may veteran Oaks but has not been looked at for a long time. Francis Rose did not find much in the 1980s, but by 2004, when Neil briefly looked at the site, it was clearly improving after past pollution. There were some good veteran tree dry bark species including the Near Threatened Zwackhia prosodea (Opegrapha prosodea) seen, but no systematic recording has been carried out then or since, so a visit is very overdue.

Meet at 10.30am in the car park for the reserve. John Norton’s instructions are as follows. There is a new garden centre and car park, the latter just north of Grange Farm at SU583003 which is at the southern end of the LNR. Access via Grange Road, then Howe Road and Barrington Close.

This is one of a number of events being held throughout the country during August which will include an element of commemoration to Frank Dobson who passed away in December 2021. It is the successive editions of Frank's book “Lichens: An Illustrated Guide to the British and Irish Species”, first published in 1979, together with his teaching that has enabled so many field naturalists to take an active interest in lichens.

Beginners are most welcome, bring a hand lens and a note book. The plan is for a full day meeting so do bring along a drink and lunch.

Map of area at:

 https://www.cucaera.co.uk/grp/?refs=SU583003&map=ordnance&vcs=true&grat…

Reserve website at https://www.gosport.gov.uk/avcpwildgrounds

This is the second of three Discussion / Brainstorming Meetings on Yong People and Lichens - via Zoom open to BLS members and anyone interested.

organised by Judith Allinson for the BLS who writes:

"It is planned to have three such meetings on this topic via Zoom and we have arranged to hold the first two during "Lichens for All" month.

The date of the third meeting will be in Autumn (probably October).   We especially value young people's views

The first was held on Tue 9 August and was very stimulating. 

The second is Tuesday 23 Aug at 7pm. to 8.30pm.  We hope that people who missed the first can come to the second one.
The aim is to have brainstorming sessions on the following topics:

1.  How to encourage interest and activity in lichenology amongst young people of all backgrounds, 
2.  How the BLS can/might be able to assist the development of  young people in lichen skills.

By "young people" I am thinking of people between 7yrs and 35 yrs and "of all backgrounds" to be as inclusive as possible.
I will record the points from the discussions.

I hope the discussions will be useful to

a) People who want to encourage young people to be more interested in nature

b) Any young people who may come to this meeting, to answer their questions

c) People of the future in general - because the lichenologists of the future need to start training now!  It takes a few years to build up experience. 

d) The BLS, including council.

I hope that people will feel inspired to do something as a result of these discussions, but no-one is committed to carry out individual suggestions.

If you would like to know more, or cannot attend this second meeting but would like to attend the last one when it is planned (and even suggest a different night of the week) please let me know. At zoom-improvement@britishlichensociety.org.uk  

Zoom meeting.  When: Aug 23, 2022 07:00 PM London 
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-qhrTkjGtzLK9ZSfrfkhorfMfnXmOvm  
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. (or just register on the evening)

Relaunch of the Wednesday Morning Lichen Chat and Improvement Group for the 2022-2023 season

More details here: 

Relaunch of the Tuesday Evening Lichen Chat and Improvement Group for the 2022-2023 season. These meetings will continue fortnightly from now.

More details here: 

This is a Discussion / Brainstorming Meeting via Zoom open to BLS members and anyone interested.

organised by Judith Allinson for the BLS who writes:

"It is planned to have three such meetings on this topic via Zoom and we have arranged to hold the first during "Lichens for All" month.

The date of the second meeting will be planned at this meeting.   We especially value young people's views

The first is this Tuesday 9 Aug at 7pm. to 8.30pm.
The aim is to have brainstorming sessions on the following topics:

1.  How to encourage interest and activity in lichenology amongst young people of all backgrounds, 
2.  How the BLS can/might be able to assist the development of  young people in lichen skills.

By "young people" I am thinking of people between 7yrs and 35 yrs and "of all backgrounds" to be as inclusive as possible.
I will record the points from the discussions.

I hope the discussions will be useful to

a) People who want to encourage young people to be more interested in nature

b) Any young people who may come to this meeting, to answer their questions

c) People of the future in general - because the lichenologists of the future need to start training now!  It takes a few years to build up experience. 

d) The BLS, including council.

I hope that people will feel inspired to do something as a result of these discussions, but no-one is committed to carry out individual suggestions.

If you cannot attend this first meeting but would like to attend one of the two following ones (and even suggest a different night of the week) please let me know. at zoom-improvement@britishlichensociety.org.uk  

Please can you register for this meeting: The Zoom Link for this Tuesday  Aug 9, 2022 07:00 PM London is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcOqtqTIrGNHXv4ODdFJxT34B3CgYc1_F  
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting."

Meeting at the Curry Rivel churchyard, Somerset, at 11.00 am on Wednesday10 August.

This is a Frank Dobson Commemoration event.

GR ST391254 Postcode TA10 0HQ.

Please bring packed lunch and your memories of Frank Dobson as himself or from his books and other publications. We will be taking photos of people using his book identifying lichens in the field.  This will be a good social catch-up.

Curry Rivel churchyard has been chosen because Frank surveyed the lichens there in 1991. And it is also a convenient meeting point for those of us from Gloucestershire and from Devon.

A walk at Ramsham Nature Reserve near Tavistock, to discover the wealth of lichens at this newly created nature reserve.

Meeting at 11 am at the car park for a walk through the nature reserve. The walk will be led by Amy Hookway. There is no need to book, but if you are running late, Amy can be contacted on 07592 335394

The walk is scheduled to end about 1pm, but people are welcome to stay longer.

Everyone interested in lichen is welcome, but this walk is ideal for those new to lichen. Hand lens and field guides will be available for use.

The land was only recently purchased and in its infancy as a Nature Reserve, but holds many wonderful lichens in various habitats, from trees along the River Tavy, granite boulders, an old stone barn and coppiced Hazel woodlands and Willow wetlands all within easy strolling distance from the car park. 

Facilities: There are compost loos, but as yet no running water, so it is best for people to bring a flask/water bottle. Amy intends to bring flapjack and cakes for everyone to share.

This walk is part of a month-long series of Frank Dobson commemorative events.