Come and be part of a global voice for wild plants and fungi
This year on National Meadows Day, we are campaigning for the protection of irreplaceable meadows – and we need your help!
Our wildflower meadows are a powerful ally in the fight against climate change – but they are in trouble!
“Will you help protect and restore irreplaceable habitats?”
Our corporate partners benefit from 35 years of experience in nature restoration so they can achieve real impact.
Become a Plantlife member today and together we will rebuild a world rich in plants and fungi
01 July 2025
Plantlife has launched a rescue mission to save two rare lichen species clinging to survival in the Lake District’s unique temperate rainforest.
Black-bordered Shingle Lichen Parmeliella thriptophylla – characterized by its distinct black border – and Stinky Sticta Sticta fuliginosa – known for its distinctive fishy odor when damp – depend on ash trees for their survival. As ash dieback – a fatal fungal disease caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus – is expected to decimate up to 80% of ash trees across the UK, these delicate organisms face an uncertain future.
The translocation process involved carefully removing small fragments of both lichens from an infected Ash tree and transferring them to a new host – in this case, a hazel tree with a similarly high bark pH – using plastic mesh netting and stapled in place to secure them to the tree. Young and healthy-looking parts of the lichen were chosen as they were still growing.
“These lichens are part of a globally rare community found in the UK’s temperate rainforests,” said Dave Lamacraft, Plantlife’s Lichen and Bryophyte Specialist.
“This is a rescue mission. Not all trees are suitable for lichen translocation, and careful consideration must be given to the species of lichen and the characteristics of the recipient tree.”
The Lake District is home to one of the UK’s rarest and most biodiverse habitats: temperate rainforest. Here, steep slopes, high rainfall, and humid, dappled woodlands provide the perfect microclimate for rare lichens to thrive. The UK holds a significant portion of the global population of lichens and has an international responsibility to protect them.
Georgia Stephens, Rainforest Advisor North West at Plantlife, added: “The UK’s temperate rainforests are global biodiversity hotspots. Projects like this are essential to ensuring the survival of species that have evolved in these rare and fragile environments over centuries. As ash dieback reshapes our woodlands, we must act decisively to safeguard the precious life they support.”
This conservation translocation is a long-term project. While the initial attachment will be monitored regularly, signs of success may take 10 years to fully materialize. First assessments are due by the end of 2025.
Here you can find all of our latest press releases, news and statements.
We will keep you updated by email about our work, news, campaigning, appeals and ways to get involved. We will never share your details and you can opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Notice.
