The Cumbria Lichen and Bryophyte group is a self-study group for everyone interested in learning, recording, conserving or simply enjoying Cumbria’s lichens and bryophytes (regardless of experience) .
Please join us on a field trip and share your experiences with us on the Cumbria Lichens and Cumbria Bryophytes Facebook groups.
Platyhypnidium riparioides capsule – Clare Shaw 
Physconia distorta, Aira Force – Chris Cant 
Sphagnum palustre and fallax – Clare Shaw 
Bartramia pomiformis – Clare Shaw 
Bunodophoron melanocarpum, Naddle – Chris Cant 
Oak pasture, Birkrigg fell, Newlands valley – Chris Cant
Here are our most recent blog posts:
- Bryum in Cumbria
Open-ground walks, and what you might see by way of mosses: in praise of a group of mosses which colonise bare soil, called “Bryums”. Their genus name, Bryum, literally means moss….. from Latin bryon (“moss”), from Ancient Greek βρύον (brúon, “tree-moss, oyster-green”), from βρύω (brúō, “be full to bursting, abound”). Many people enjoy walking: on […] - On the Blood spot trail…
Many of the lichens you see up on the fells are hard to tell apart. But one that is easy to identify is Ophoparma ventosa, the blood spot lichen. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll remember it. And you might not even need a hand lens! It’s a crusty, cracked and rough (sometimes warty) splodge on […] - Bryophytes of limestone regions in southern Cumbria
Limestone forms a striking part of the landscape in southern Cumbria and over the border into Lancashire. The cliffs and screes of Hutton Roof / Farleton Fell and Whitbarrow Scar loom over the M6 and A590 and are visible for miles. Gait Barrows NNR (Lancashire) claims to be one of Britain’s most important limestone habitats, […] - Upland lichens
There are many lichen habitats in Cumbria, some literally on your doorstep. However, if you want a walk then there’s potentially lots to see while out on the fells and scars of the Lake District and the Pennines. The species I’m showing here don’t need a hand lens to see. With your eye in, you […] - Short-listed for the NBN Groups Award 2020
The Cumbria Lichen and Bryophyte Group has been short-listed for a group award in the NBN Awards for Wildlife Recording 2020! These annual Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions adults and young people are making to wildlife recording and data sharing, which is helping to improve our understanding of the UK’s biodiversity. It’s free […]