Endangered lichen discovery prompts conservation efforts
An endangered lichen has been discovered within Dinefwr Park, Carmarthenshire, prompting a collaborative conservation project.
National Trust, The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales, and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are working together on a conservation project to protect and nurture the lobaria lichen population found.
Lobaria pulmonaria lichen was found on several trees within The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales’ Castle Woods Nature Reserve and National Trust’s Bog Woods.
Only around 600 trees in Wales are known to have lobaria lichen on them, with there being around 40 sites across Wales holding just one or two trees with lobaria lichen.
Hayley Barrett, environment team leader, NRW, says: “I’m really proud of the team and the work they have been doing in the Dinefwr Estate, working with partners from the National Trust and The Wildlife Trust to preserve this charismatic species that tells a story or survival and restoration, as one of the few sites left in Wales of this wonderful species.
“It’s fantastic to see the lichen thriving on the trees that remain here and hopefully we will see it spread further under the sympathetic management that we’re undertaking here.”
It was virtually wiped out in the UK during the Industrial Revolution and only survives where there is clean air, humid, and still conditions.
The discovery of a tiny population at Dinefwr, the only population within Carmarthenshire, signifies it has has survived thanks to the clean air in that location and it being sheltered from airborne nutrients from agriculture.
Lobaria lichen had previously been spotted on ash trees in National Trust’s Bog Woods, but was more recently discovered on the oldest tree in Dinefwr known as the Castle Oak, which is estimated to be at least 800 years old.
“Lobaria lichen has been observed on the largest and oldest oak we have on site,” says Dai Hart, countryside manager for Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, National Trust.
“It was probably a sapling when the castle was constructed so it’s seen a lot of history and change in Dinefwr over the years.
“The fact that lobaria lichen exists on this ancient tree is really something quite special and I am delighted not only that the lichen has been found at Dinefwr, but also with the work being carried out to ensure it is given every opportunity to flourish here.”