It’s an honour to announce that the Council of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society have appointed me as their County Recorder for lichens in Suffolk. Very many thanks to the SNS for the opportunity to serve in this vital role, as well as to my predecessor and now ‘Emeritus Recorder’ Dr Chris Hitch, who single-handedly established modern lichenology in Suffolk starting in the late 1970s.
As County Recorder, my core responsibilities will include collating and verifying all records of lichens submitted in Suffolk, and serving as a point of contact about lichens for ecologists, naturalists and members of the public. Each year, I’ll also compose an annual report on the county’s lichen flora for Suffolk Natural History , the SNS’s flagship journal.
This flora is certainly changing quickly: global warming, increased nitrogen pollution, habitat loss and major infrastructure projects are all making their impacts felt. Around 750 species of lichens have been recorded in Suffolk. But a significant number are vulnerable or endangered, and at least one has gone extinct in Britain in just the last 25 years.
In my new role, I also intend to champion lichens in Suffolk by continuing my educational work. The SNS’s support will enable me to reach a wider audience, and to help more people to discover the secret world of lichens hidden right under their noses. Lichens may be overlooked and neglected, but they don’t deserve to be: they’re not only ecologically vital, but also astonishingly beautiful.
If you live in Suffolk and you’re interested in lichens, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. As County Recorder, it’s my ambition to establish a ‘Suffolk Lichen Group’ with whom I can work together to promote and safeguard our county’s lichen treasures. Join me!
