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