Members of the BLS are scattered throughout the British Isles, and the BLS Membership List booklet is useful for finding members who live in your area. There is often a reluctance on the part of new members to contact other lichenologists, partly through natural reserve, and partly because they feel that other lichenologists are "experts" and may not want to be bothered with "beginners". In truth, "experts" are often delighted to go out with beginners and to pass on their experience, and the best way to improve skills in lichen identification comes from opportunities to be out in the field with the expert. Several experts also run Lichen Days for just this opportunity (e.g. Neil Sanderson in the New Forest). The flier in the Bulletin advertises BLS Lichen Courses and Field Meetings, and beginners are always very welcome.
However, part of the reason for joining the BLS is the opportunity to meet up informally with like-minded enthusiasts, to go out into the field and share in the common enjoyment and interest in looking for lichens, and develop a better understanding at your own pace. In some parts of Britain, there are active local groups already set up (e.g. Worcestershire with Joy Ricketts, Sussex with Jacqui Middleton). These groups meet up informally, often to explore and record a particular site or habitat, or just to potter, exchange ideas and pick up tips from each other.
The list of Lichen Contacts below are of members of the BLS who are willing to be contacted by new (and old) members in order to meet up at some time and look at lichens. This is a preliminary list only, and anyone else who would like to be included as a Lichen Contact is invited to let Sandy Coppins know, and their names will be added to the list in the next (Summer) Bulletin. (Sandy Coppins, 37 High Street, East Linton, East Lothian, EH40 3AA; tel. 01620 860 906; e-mail : lichensEL@btopenworld.com).
Addresses of Regional Referees may be obtained by members from the [Assistant Treasurer]
England
| Name | Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Allen (Devon, Lundy, Channel Islands) | Beauregard, 5 Alscott Gardens, Alverdiscott, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3PT. | maallen@eclipse.co.uk |
| Lesley Balfe (Wiltshire) | 155 High Street, Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wilts BA13 4DR. | mlbalfe@talk21.com |
| Barbara Benfield (Devon) | Penspool Cottage, Plymtree, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 2JY. | bbenfield2@bbmax.co.uk |
| Ishpi Blatchley (Kent, SE London) | 3 Durham Avenue, Bromley, Kent, BR2 0QA. | Please contact by post |
| Martin Butler (Bedfordshire environs) | 96 Townfield Road, Flitwick, Bedford, MK45 1JG. | martin_j_butler@talk21.com |
| Roderick Corner (Cumbria) | Hawthorn Hill, 36 Worsdworth Street, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7QZ. | Please contact by post |
| Simon Davey (Sussex) | 10 Cottage Homes, Common Lane, Ditchling, Hassocks, Sussex, BN6 8TW | srdavey@globalnet.co.uk |
| Frank Dobson (Surrey) | 57 Acacia Grove, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3BU. | Please contact by post |
| Trevor Duke (Staffordshire, Shropshire) | Sandrock, The Compa, Kinver, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY7 6HS. | trevorduke@aol.com |
| Peter Earland-Bennett (Suffolk, Huntingtonshire) | 160 High Street, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 0QY. | Please contact by post |
| Tony Fletcher (Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottingham, Gwynedd) | Leicestershire Museums, 31-33 Hayhill Industrial Estate, Sileby Rd, Barrow on Soar, Leicestershire, LE12 8LD. | |
| Vince Giavarini (Dorset) | 10 Alverton Avenue, Poole, Dorset BH15 2QG | |
| David Hill (Bristol area) | Yew Tree Cottage, Yew Tree Lane, Compton Martin, Bristol, BS40 6JS. | d.j.hill@bris.ac.uk |
| Barbara Hilton (Devon) | Beauregard, 5 Alscott Gardens, Alverdiscott, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3PT. | bphilton@eclipse.co.uk |
| Chris Hitch (Suffolk) | 14 Hawthorn Close, Knodishall, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1XW. | Please contact by post |
| Bob Hodgson (Devon) | Gorselands, Axtown, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6BU. | rhodgdon@tinyworld.co.uk |
| Peter Lambley (Norfolk) | The Cottage, Elsing Road, Lyng, Norwich, Norfolk NR9 5RR. | plambley@aol.com |
| Doug McCutcheon (Durham) | Riding Chase, Garesfield Lane, Winlaton, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Tyne Wear, NE21 6LA. | doug@dmcc.fslife.co.uk |
| Jacqui Middleton (Sussex) | 4 Down Close, Heyshott, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0DN. | jacquiandbruce@tiscali.co.uk |
| Ivan Pedley (Northampton, Staffordshire, Warwickshire) | 48 Woodlands Drive, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0BQ. | ivan.pedley@gmail.com |
| Les & Sheila Street (Isle of Wight) | 12 Pondwell Close, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1QD. | streetecology@yahoo.co.uk |
| Steve Price (Derbyshire) | Woodlands, Combs Road Combs, High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 9UP | lichenrecords@sorby.org.uk |
| Joy Ricketts (Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire) | 37 Whinfield Road, Claines, Worcester, WR3 7HF. | jricketts@globalnet.co.uk |
| Ken Sandell (Hampshire) | 95 Porter Road, Basingstoke, Hants. RG22 4JR. | ken.sandell@qmc.ac.uk |
| Neil Sanderson (New Forest) | 3 Green Close, Woodlands, Southampton, SO40 7HA. | neilsand@dircon.co.uk |
| Mark Seaward (Lincolnshire, Yorkshire) | Department of Environmental Science, The University, Bradford, Yorkshire, BD7 1DP. | m.r.d.seaward@Bradford.ac.uk |
| Janet Simkin Northumberland | 41 North Road, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 9UN. | janetsimkin@btinternet.com |
| Clifford Smith (Welsh Marches) | Pen-y-llan, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, SY8 2HP. | cliffard7@aol.com |
| Don Smith Durham, general | 4 Ash Grove, Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire, YO62 6AG | dsmithkby@btinternet.com |
| Vanessa Winchester (Oxford) | 23 Warnborough Road, Oxford, OX2 6JA. | vanessa.winchester@geography.oxford.ac.uk |
| Pat Wolseley (Somerset S Wales) | Botany Department, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD. | P.Wolseley@nhm.ac.uk (Also: The Granary, Nettlecombe Studios, Williton, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4HS). |
Ireland
| Name | Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Maria Cullen (Ireland) | Tullynagowan, Church Hill, Derrygonelly, Co. Fermanagh, N.I. | |
| Howard Fox (Ireland) | Coursetown House, Athy, Co. Kildare, Eire. | hfox@duchas.ie |
| Mike Simms (Northern Ireland) | Department of Geology, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, Co. Antrim, N.I. BT9 5AB. | michael.simms.um@nics.gov.uk |
| Stephen Ward (Ireland) | 14 Green Rd, Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland | sdward@eircom.net |
Scotland
| Name | Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Acton (Argyll) | Dailnamac, Taynuilt, Argyll, PA35 1HZ. | andy.acton@quista.net |
| Peder Aspen (Fife - geology lichens) | 28 The Wynd, Dalgety Bay, Fife, KY11 9SJ. | marped@ukgateway.net |
| Richard Brinklow (Angus, Dundee) | Dundee Museums Art Galleries, Albert Square, Dundee, DD1 1DA. | richard.brinklow@dundeecity.gov.uk |
| Brian Coppins (Lothians, Berwickshire, Edinburgh) | 37 High Street, East Linton, East Lothian, EH40 3AA. | lichensEL@btopenworld.com |
| Kery Dalby (Orkney Shetland) | 2 West Park, Stanley, Perth, PH1 4QU. | kery.claire@tiscali.co.uk |
| John Douglass (North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire) | 171 Murray Drive, Stonehouse, Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, ML9 3NJ. | jrdouglass@hotmail.com |
| Ian Evans (West Sutherland) | Calltuinn, Nedd, Drumbeg, by Lairg, Sutherland, IV27 4NN. | PandIEVANS@aol.com |
| Sheila Reid (Aberdeenshire) | 25 Duthie Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 7PP. | sheila.reid2@btinternet.com |
| Keith Watson (Glasgow, Dumbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire) | Curator, Glasgow Museum Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, S Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G53 7NN. | keith.watson@cls.glasgow.gov.uk |
Wales
| Name | Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Chambers (Wales) | 7 Cefn Melindwr, Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3LS. | steve.chambers@wales.gsi.gov.uk |
| Ray Woods (Wales) | Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Eden House, Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 6AS. | R.Woods@ccw.gov.uk |
The purpose of Lichen Referees is to help you with your identifications. Don't be afraid of sending what you fear may be "just common species", because if you can identify these correctly, getting a referee to confirm your identification is a tremendous boost to your confidence. Keep your own herbarium of specimens that have been determined by referees; this will form a useful reference collection. Once you have your specimens correctly identified, get in the habit of sending in your records to the BLS Mapping Recorder (Mark Seaward) and to the Database Manager (Janet Simkin) or, if you have a copy of Recorder6 or the BLS data entry spreadsheet, enter your own records. You can access the latest Recording Spreadsheet (V. 53) available via this Link. This way you become actively involved in studying lichens and contributing to the work of the Society. Mapping cards can be obtained (free) from Brian Green (3 Tyn y Coed, Carneddi, Bethseda, Gywnedd, LL57 3SF). Make sure you fill in on the mapping card all the relevant site details, and include at the bottom of the card any notes about referee determinations (e.g. Cladonia portentosa - det. B. Benfield), together with your own name and address.
Please use the first stage referees initially and someone who is local to your area. Specimens should be carefully curated (i.e. dried, put in a deep freeze for two days, then kept in a dry place). Specimens should be in paper packets, with all details clearly written on the front (site name, Grid reference, Vice County, substrate from which the specimen was collected, with relevant habitat details of locality; and your name). If fragile, the specimen should be carefully mounted, i.e. Caliciales in a small match box, soil specimens mounted with glue (PVA, such as Unibond) on a piece of card and put into a small box. Always have a go at naming the specimen yourself. There should be an accompanying note of the steps you have taken in attempting to name it (e.g. spot tests, size of spores (with drawings), or even numbers followed when using keys in an identification book or Lichen Flora). Do not send too many specimens in one go - two or three are likely to be returned to you quickly, more than that and you may have a long wait. Please include a label with your name and address, plus return postage, otherwise you may not get your specimen back, or the answer you are waiting for.
First Stage Referees
| Name | Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Barbara Benfield general | Penspool Cottage, Plymtree, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 2JY. | bbenfield2@bbmax.co.uk |
| Steve Chambers general | 7 Cefn Melindwr, Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3LS. | steve.chambers@wales.gsi.gov.uk |
| Kery Dalby Orkney & Shetland | 2 West Park, Stanley, Perth, PH1 4QU. | kery.claire@tiscali.co.uk |
| Simon Davey woodlands, general | 10 Cottage Homes, Common Lane, Ditchling, Hassocks, Sussex, BN6 8TW | srdavey@globalnet.co.uk |
| Frank Dobson general | 57 Acacia Grove, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3BU. | |
| Trevor Duke general | Sandrock, The Compa, Kinver, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY7 6HS. | trevorduke@aol.com |
| Peter Earland-Bennett woodlands, general | 160 High Street, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 0QY. | |
| Bryan Edwards woodlands, general | Dorset Environmental Records Centre, Library Headquarters, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorest DT1 1XJ. | b.edwards@dorset-cc.gov.uk |
| Tony Fletcher maritime, general | Leicestershire Museums Service, Holly Hayes Collections Resources Centre, Sileby Road, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4DG. | |
| Vince Giavarini general | (address changing shortly, but still Dorset). | vinceg@giavarini.freeserve.co.uk |
| David Hill general | Yew Tree Cottage, Yew Tree Lane, Compton Martin, Bristol, BS40 6JS. | d.j.hill@bris.ac.uk |
| Chris Hitch general | 14 Hawthorn Close, Knodishall, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1XW. | |
| Ivan Pedley churchyard lichens | 48 Woodlands Drive, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0BQ. | ivan.pedley@gmail.com |
| Ken Sandell general | 95 Porter Road, Basingstoke, Hants. RG22 4JR. | ken.sandell@qmc.ac.uk |
| Neil Sanderson woodlands, general | 3 Green Close, Woodlands, Southampton, SO40 7HA. | neilsand@dircon.co.uk |
| Mark Seaward general | Department of Environmental Science, The University, Bradford, Yorkshire, BD7 1DP. | m.r.d.seaward@Bradford.ac.uk |
| Janet Simkin river shingle, general | 41 North Road, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 9UN. | janetsimkin@btinternet.com |
| Mike Simms general | Department of Geology, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, Co. Antrim, N.I. BT9 5AB. | michael.simms.um@nics.gov.uk |
| Clifford Smith general | Pen-y-llan, Leinthall Starkes, Ludlow, SY8 2HP. | cliffard7@aol.com |
| Pat Wolseley Somerset & S Wales lichens, general | Botany Department, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD. | P.Wolseley@nhm.ac.uk (Also: The Granary, Nettlecombe Studios, Williton, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4HS). |
| Ray Woods mid-Wales, general | Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Eden House, Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 6AS. | R.Woods@ccw.gov.uk |
Second Stage Referees
Second Stage Referees should be contacted prior to sending material. Packets with lichen specimens should be clearly labelled (preferably printed to avoid problems with reading illegible handwriting), plus include full details about location (including country), date and name of collector, plus herbarium reference number or herbarium where the specimen will be lodged for future reference (as they may need to cite the specimen in future research and publication). Again, for more details, see Alan Orange's article on Curation in this volume.
| Name | Address | |
|---|---|---|
| Othmar Breuss (Catapyrenium and segregates (e.g. Placidium), Placidiopsis and Endocarpon), | Abteilung Botanik, Naturhistorisches Museum, Burgring 7, A-1014 Wien, Austria. | obreuss@bg9.at |
| Burkhard Büdel (Lichinales), | Abteilung Allgemeine Botanik, Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Kaiserslautern, D-67653 Kaiserlautern, Germany. | buedel@rhrk.uni-kl.de |
| Philippe Clerc (Usnea in W Europe, Macaronesia and eastern North America) | clerc@cjb.unige.ch | |
| Steve Chambers (heavy metal, general), | 7 Cefin Melindwr, Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3LS. | steve.chambers@Wales.gsi.gov.uk |
| Brian Coppins (Bacidia, Micarea, general British & W Europe), | Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR. | b.coppins@rbge.org.uk |
| Paul Diederich (lichenicolous fungi), | Musée national d'histoire naturelle, 25 rue Munster, L-2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg. | paul.diederich@ci.educ.lu |
| Alan Fryday (Rhizocarpon, crustose saxicolous lichens, montane lichens), | Herbarium, Dept. of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1312, USA. | fryday@msu.edu |
| Peter James (general) | Dept. Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD | |
| Per Magnus Jørgensen (Pannariaceae), | Department of Botany, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007, Bergen, Norway. | anne.hage@bot.uib.no |
| Roland Moberg (Physciaceae), | The Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Villavägen 6, S-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden. | Roland.Moberg@evolmuseum.uu.se |
| Alan Orange (freshwater, limestone, Lepraria, general), | Dept. Botany, National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Glamorgan, CF1 3NP. | alan.orange@nmgw.ac.uk |
| Christian Printzen (Biatora, corticolous 'Lecidea'), | Abteilung Botanik/Plaeobotanik, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. | >christian.printzen@senckenberg.de |
| Christoph Scheidegger (Buellia), | Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and landscape Research, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland. | christoph.scheidegger@wsl.ch |
| Leif Tibell (Calicioid lichens and fungi), | Dept. of Systematic Botany, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, S-75236 Uppsala, Sweden. | leif.tibell@systbot.uu.se |
| Einar Timdal (Hypocenomyce, Psora, Toninia), | Botanical Museum, University of Oslo, Sars'gate 1, N-0562 Oslo, Norway. | einar.timdal@toyen.uio.no |
| Tor Tønsberg (corticolous sterile crusts), | Department of Botany, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007, Bergen, Norway. | tor.tonsberg@bot.uib.no |
