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

Ireland

Scotland

Wales

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 Biobase Recorder (Janet Simkin) (or, if you have a copy of Biobase, enter your own records). 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

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.