Everything You Wanted to Know About Lichen

Today I meet up with Mike Dixon, a Lichen enthusiast. Together we spend a pleasant morning searching the churchyard of St Lawrence church in Falmer, East Sussex for the wonderful organism that grows on tombstones, as well as trees, wood and brick.

A lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship. The combined lichen has properties different from those of its component organisms.

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[cogidubnus]

You do have a knack of finding interesting people and interesting new worlds for us to study...thank you!

[Stringtrees]

Excellent, I made a comment on a recent video about lichen being a good sign and Mike's confirmation was reassuring. It is amazing what is all around us if we stop to look. I thought I was a bit of a crazy man for stopping to look it lichen whenever I am out and about-comforting to know I am not alone. Thanks Richard- very enjoyable- hopefully people will lichen subscribe( see what I did there?).

[BeTheJookie]

"Don't forget to follow, lichen subscribe"... nice one Richard!

Great video :) I've suddenly become quite interested in lichen and want to learn more about it, I deal with it often when cleaning patios and driveways.

[georgetimperley]

I did enjoy that, I never realised how important lichen is. It is quite interesting when you look at it closely. It clearly has a lot of potential. Great video you 2 👍

[paulpj]

Thank you Mike and Richard. Very interesting stuff there. Top Mark's for getting the name correct by the end of the Vid 😂

[shirleyward]

Thank you both for this really interesting Video, so interesting and something else we take for granted.

[andrewnorris]

People are amazing. What an interest to have. Great video.

[zw]

Very important and unnoticed part of our Ecosystem that is practically everywhere. An indicator organism like amphibians. Then, of course, there are a myriad of organisms, like mites, that live among the lichens. One of the most interesting groups are the Tardigrades, water bears, that are almost indestructible. Oh my!

[KevinsRambles]

Wow that is unbelievable, Thanks Richard and Mike.
If I see someone in future with those type of glass/binoculars on head I won't think he is bonkers or very short sighted

[annosborne]

Thank you Richard and Mike, you are never too old to learn something new. A great video.

[EddieStyle]

Super interesting! Thank you! How can I purchase those cool glasses?

[AWildBard]

The sound quality is so great. You got your money's worth with that microphone.

[MrGreatplum]

Really interesting stuff. I should think that the lichen is very interesting close up!

[ramibu]

So very quite interesting! It all of the sudden made me think back to Jr High School (think they call it Middle School now😅) where we had to go around the town I lived in seeing how many diff types we could find & record (weren't given the special magnifying glasses though😕). When he said only 7-8•/• covered the earth I was surprised as I know just how much I see in my own back yard. I thought it must just be damp climents (such as Oregon & England that both rain alot). Until he said that places in Asia where there is high population doesn't have it - & they are very humid! I know even when I lived in Portland I saw lots of it - and that's a big city!!!🤔

[georginacox]

Yes.I like moss etc. I don't have a bike. I like to see the front gardens etc. Study.

[MrNas]

Well worth further investigation! If I remember correctly, lichen is formed of three organisms working together and the third was only discovered in the last 20 years.

[warminghurst]

Following up the 'macro lens' comments, there are indeed ones available, but it depends on if you want to use the Hero 5-7 just as a camera body, or when it is in the mounting carrier, you are spoilt for choice on Amazon (there are other on-line retailers!!). One would ideally need a tripod as when that close the slightest movement would lose focus.
Probably better with (yet) another macro camera, I have a couple of these that you might like to try out Richard. Or your SLR may have a usable macro setting.

[RstewDstew]

Great Video Richard.. A fascinating glimpse into the macro world of Lichens.
I was reminded of this quote; What is life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare. Thanks for sharing Mike's passion for Lichen.

[davidkitchen]

Informative video thank you. Maybe we will see Mike again - he is a fun guy to be with. (I'll get my coat).

[warminghurst]

Lots of goodies pointed to in this video, I found the headset lenses on a certain online site! for £11.49, ordered late last night - arrived via prime this morning. I will use them for modelling etc. Now where are my rechargeable AAA cells?
I also looked up ways of using my camera in Macro mode, I could add a Macro lense to the front too!