Sussex Lichen Recording Group Newsletter No. 29

Here is the twenty ninth of our Sussex Lichen Recording Group newsletters

Sussex Field Meetings

The weather for the meeting at Stanmer Park (two old orchards) was warm and fine.  We were investigating the old orchard trees and amazingly did not get distracted from our mission.  The trees were generally covered in lichens and Parmelia saxatilis was particulalry abundant which was nice to see. Because this meeting clashed with a number of other events there were only three SLRG members and two representatives from the park which included Bryn Thomas who guided us for most of the day.  However, our count was pretty respectable even though we kept to corticolous species - 30 species for the first orchard - south facing and well-lit; and 20 species for the second orchard which was rather shaded. 

 

The next meeting, following a request from the local society (and one of our members - Jacqui Morris), will be at Markstakes Common, nr Chailey, East Sussex, where we will be investigating an old wood pasture site just off the A275 in Chailey, East Sussex and an old church (if time).  There are several quite old pollards (oak and beech) but the bulk of the woodland has younger hornbeam, oak, ash, hazel, wild service trees and holly. Relict stands of heather indicate that some areas were open until relatively recently.There is a flint wall along the northern boundary, several old pits and earth boundary banks, and streams. There are some ancient woodland indicator vascular species, which suggests that the common was never entirely cleared or cultivated.  There is also St Peter's Church (c. 1269 or earlier) nearby which may be of interest - ancient yew and old gravestones. 

Here are the co-ordinates and time of the meeting:

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. Markstakes Common, nr Chailey,  East Sussex.  10.30 - 3.30, Grid Ref: *. We will be parking on the roadside at TQ 397183 where there is limited parking (see below).    Jacqui Morris will be taking the lead and will be accompanying us for the day.  All welcome - bring a packed lunch.

Access is:  Meet by the gate in the flint wall in Markstakes Lane where there is limited parking on the roadside

TQ 397183. Markstakes Lane is to the east of the A275 in South Chailey (travelling north from Lewes it is a right turning just after the Horns Lodge pub and travelling south from the A272 junction it is on the left soon after the Five Bells).  No loos but lots of trees and cover. Can be muddy of there has been rain.  If you wish to visit St Peter's Church after Markstakes there is parking in the lane and in the church car park TQ392 193. Again off the A275 about 0.5 mile north of the turning for Markstakes.
  
SLRG Membership - we have dispensed with membership fees for our informal group as the costs for running this group is negligible.  Feel free to pass on the details of this newsletter to anyone who might be interested in joining our meetings or receiving the newsletter (email only).

Jacqui Middleton's Phone number - Tel: 01730 716366  Email - jacquiandbruce@...  Mobile - 07790 528926 (only used on field meeting days)

Useful lichen links:

http://www.theBLS.org.uk - the BLS web site has a range of useful lichen links now including the Australian and Icelandic floras!

http://www.lichen.com/people.html

There is also now a new lichen chat group (britishlichens group at Yahoo). It is a free, easy-to-use email group service. I am sure they would welcome additional subscribers - their details are as follows:

To learn more about the britishlichens group, please visit
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To start sending messages to members of this group, simply
send email to
britishlichens@...

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