Becoming Lichen - irregular diary - part 6
Part of Becoming Lichen - a research project by Simon Whitehead
Becoming Lichen Walk 1
Gilfach Nature Reserve, Rhayader
14 December
This was a walk to encounter rare lichen colonies in this very special reserve at Gilfach, led by myself and ecologists Josie Bridges and Ellie Bagget from Natur am Byth. This was a hybrid ‘walk-shop’, where lichen life was identified and observed and ways of being and moving with different lichen colonies introduced.
A generous and curious group of people attended and we walked the upland woods, stopping at intervals to bring our attention to these organisms & give our time to them. Inevitably, we dropped into lichen time and the afternoon stretched way beyond the initial timescale. Perhaps this is one of the qualities of lichen that is transmitted once we begin to notice them? They slow us down!
I shared some gentle movement exercises, scores and meditations emerging from recent research, no-one seemed phased by this! We moved with, observed & addressed the lichens we found, many people picked up the lichen twigs that had been blown out of the trees by recent storms, some were worn in hats, or re-distributed as we walked.
Leaning by an old sentinel oak, we culminated in observing and lightly touching some rare lichen growth. Ending with tea and mince pies in the Gilfach centre, there was lively discussion and questions, with eloquent responses from Josie and Ellie.
I took the opportunity to share some recent lichen field recordings; invitations to listen to the world through lichen.
Gilfach is a special, rare gem of a place. I hope we return soon.
S.W.
Recordings by me! (treated minimally by sound artist Barnaby Oliver)
Images: Ellie Evelyn Orrell
