Bryum capillare (Capillary Thread-moss)

Bryum capillare is a very common moss that is often found growing in tufts. It is found in base-rich to slightly acid soils in gardens, grasslands or woodlands. The capsules shown above are not fully mature, but when so are a red-brown.

Fuscidea lightfootii

This crustose lichen has a bright green granulose thallus. Although it is often found infertile, this specimen has brown 1mm apothecia. It was found on a twig in Whitehall park, Darwen, Lancashire

Platismatia glauca

Platismatia glauca is a common british lichen. The one pictured above is a morph often found on gristone rock, having a characteristic copper-brown colouration. The range of forms are shown in M Sutcliffe's images on www.britishlichens.co.uk This particular one was found on a coarse gritstone rock on Withnell Moor, Lancashire on 11.3.10.

LICHENS

Lecanora muralis

A common lichen in urban areas, this one was found on the kerb next to a roadway through a cemetery near Darwen, Lancashire. It is a pollution-resistant species.

LICHENS

Baeomyces rufus (Brown-baret lichen)

This lichen was found on a gritstone rock at the entrance to a disused quarry near Darwen, Lancashire. It has a bright grey-green thallus with pale pink apothecia on pale stalks. It is widespread on gritstone rock. Excellent photographs of this lichen can be found at www.irishlichens.ie.

POEM

Having a great admiration for the work of John Betjeman the following is clearly influenced by his style. 4/1/09

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She stared at her grey television,

Watching her favourite show,

When she heard a knock at the door,

And decided that she'd better go.

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She struggled up from her armchair,

And shuffled across to the door,

But slipped over Ginger, the cat,

Banged her head, and lay still on the floor,

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The rat - tat-tat-tat grew much louder,

And its urgency grew more and more,

A clamour of voices she would have heard,

If she hadn't been dead on the floor.

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Next to her body lay knitting,

A jumper for Alice or Ted,

Depending on how it turned out,

But it didn't turn out 'cos she's dead!