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Family activities
Not many people have heard of lichens, but they are a fascinating and pretty strange part of our natural world. They come in all shapes and sizes, but what exactly are these colourful blobs?
Learn more about what lichens are, what makes them special, and where they grow in these activities perfect for children aged 7-11. We’ll take you on a real lichen adventure!
Even though we can find lichens in most places we go, lots of us have never really noticed them and don’t know what they are.
Have a go at our What’s a lichen? activity to learn everything you need to know about them.
Have a go at our activity
Now you know what a lichen is, can you tell lichens apart from other living things?
Take a look at the activity sheet and see if you can Spot the lichen.
Download and print Spot the lichen sheet
Scroll down for even more lichen activities!
Lichens can grow almost anywhere… they could even be right on your doorstep!
Find out more about where lichens grow through our online activity – you might be surprised at where you can find them!
Even in busy places, full of people and cars, you’ll be able to spot lichens. They could be anywhere, from playparks and pavements, to graveyards and post boxes.
Now you know some of the places you might find lichens growing its time to see if you can find some. Go on your own Lichen Hunt to see where you can find them in your local area.
Download and print the Lichen Hunt sheet
Pastinaca sativa
DistributionWidespread throughout the UK
Habitat Grassland and scrub
Best time to seeJune to August
A tall, strong smelling, hairy plant with a ridged stem. Oval toothed leaves with yellow umbrella shaped flowers.
Learn more about lichens with easy to follow interactive activities and printable spotter sheets and scavenger hunts.
Trifolium repens
Often found in parks, banks and lawns – any type of grassland habitat – White Clover is the commonest of the clovers.
The White Clover flowerheads are ball-shaped cluster on a long stem, made up of tiny individual white and sometimes very pale pink flowers. The leaves have the archetypal ‘cloverleaf’ shape: three rounded leaflets often with a pale band.
Common across the UK.
Almost any grassy habitat.
Flowers from June to September.
White Clover lawn, image by Archie Thomas
White Clover, image by Trevor Dines
Our road verges have the potential to act as a sanctuary for wildflowers and a network of connective corridors across the UK. By unlocking their potential, road verges and greenspaces have an important part to play in natures recovery, whilst enhancing carbon storage, saving public money, and producing resources from waste products.
Plantlife's award winning Managing Grassland Road Verge Guide & Good Verge Guide are proven to help local and national authorities, community groups, organisations and other key stakeholders to help transform road verges and greenspaces.
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