Learning to Love Lichens
Worth a closer look
Ireland is one of the best countries in the world for lichens, and within Ireland, West Cork, especially the Bantry Bay area with Glengarriff Woods, is a lichen-rich hotspot. It is a wonderful place to start to look at lichens. They can be found everywhere – on the shore, in woods, in countryside and in towns. They grow on rocks, trees, soil, old fences, brick, slate, concrete and many other surfaces.
Ellen Hutchins studied lichens around Bantry Bay in the early 1800s, recording close to 200 different species. During her exploration of the local shores, woods, fields and mountains, she discovered several lichens new to science. At least three of these are named after her: Lecania hutchinsiae, Pertusaria hutchinsiae and Enterographa hutchinsiae.
The resources here include: a short (3 minute) film about lichens; an introductory guide to lichens in Glengarriff Woodlands and Harbour by Paul Whelan (author of Lichens of Ireland); a micro-trail for a West Cork shore by the local NPWS Conservation Ranger, Clare Heardman, for families and children and a guide to the lichens and trees of Snave Beach by Howard Fox (botanist, National Botanic Gardens) and Maria Cullen. The latter lichenologists have also produced a lichen audit of Ardnagashel Estate, where Ellen’s brothers lived (use Contact Us to request a copy). This page also has links to useful websites and books on lichens in Ireland.
Oceanic Lichens: an Introductory Guide to Glengarriff Woodlands and Harbour
By Paul Whelan. Published in June 2021, this beautiful book will enable you to explore the wonderful world of lichens in the woods and on the shoreline. Discover how lichens live, how special they are as a life form and learn how to identify some common species. Equipped with just a hand lens or the camera on your mobile phone and this guide, with its stunning photographs and clear, simple descriptions of species, your eyes will be opened to the intriguing Lilliputian world of lichens.
Buy your copy here in the online shop or from Bantry Bookshop. 75 pages. Photos and descriptions of 40 species. €16
Paul Whelan wrote a shorter Introduction to Lichens for the Ellen Hutchins Festival in 2018 which is available as a free download on the button below and provides an excellent first step in understanding this fascinating and strange life form, then take it further with the Oceanic Lichens book.
Snave Beach Lichen & Tree micro-nature trail
A short guide to the lichens and trees found at Snave Beach, Ballylickey, West Cork. Written by Irish lichenologists Howard Fox and Maria Cullen, the 18-page A5 booklet introduces the reader to the diversity of lichens present on the rocks, trees and leaves found along this small section of coast. The 2018 online edition is here as a free download, and the 2020 print edition can be bought from the shop here. Cost €5.
Micro-nature Guide Lichens at Snave Beach
Explore the seaside lichens at Snave Beach using this colourful and informative free micro-nature guide aimed at children and families.
Other Resources
Books:
Irish lichenologist Paul Whelan’s magnificent new two-volume book features over 720 species of lichen, each of which has a detailed description accompanied by a selection of excellent photos to aid identification. This beautifully produced book is the most comprehensive Irish lichen identification guide available to date.
Funders
The Oceanic Lichens book was published with support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage in 2021.
The print edition of Snave Beach Lichen and Tree micro-nature trail was funded by Fisheries Local Action Group – South in 2020 and the free booklet downloads, leaflet and film were funded by Fisheries Local Action Group – South and the Heritage Council in 2018. The film had additional funding from UCC Library.
