Managing rare lichens and mosses
THE LUSH, shaggy woodlands that lie along the West Coast and up the deep sea lochs are home to an astonishing number of rare mosses and lichens, many of which are only found here and few other places in Europe.
But many of these rich woodlands are isolated from each other, potentially placing these rare plants in jeopardy. Plantlife is offering woodland owners and managers the chance to find out more about these often overlooked mosses and lichens and tips to help them survive for generations to come.
A mild climate and high rainfall creates conditions that allow these small plants to thrive. Woodland man- agers will know of them as they go about growing timber, seeing them covering tree trunks and rock faces. But many of these patches are isolated from other sites, making it difficult for them to expand.
Davie Black, conservation manager for Plantlife Scotland, said: ‘Many plant-rich areas are fragmented and isolated from each other, often confined to steep ravines and other difficult places. Woodland managers can, with some simple actions, create space for these global rarities to expand and thrive.
‘If you own woodland and would like to find out more, I can walk through the wood with you, pointing out the key plants and offer simple options for future management.’
Some of the species that live in these woods are lichens such as golden specklebelly, green satin lichen and speckled seastorm; liverworts such as greater whipwort, prickly featherwort and sea scalewort like more humid conditions and can be found near running water.
Contact Davie Black at scotland@plantlife. org.uk or call 01786 469778 if you would like more information about the little gems that make up the Celtic rainforest, one of the world’s rare habitats.