Two schools receive lichen award

Baskerville School in Birmingham and Nottingham High School for Girls have shared an award from the British Lichen Society to help with their lichen research.

After taking part in the OPAL air survey, both schools became interested in investigating the effects of air pollution on lichens. The Tom Chester award from the British Lichen Society supports the study of lichens with grants of up to £250.

Baskerville School is for autistic students of all ages. It is aiming to explore the relationship between lichen cover and the position of trees, based on the many apple trees in the school grounds. A grant of £200 has helped to pay for a digital camera to record the twigs and lichens.

Nottingham High School for Girls is organising a number of related projects involving 32 of its Year 10 students. Mentored by OPAL community scientist Amy Rogers, the students will investigate lichen sensitivity to nitrogen pollutants from individual sources such as pig farms and power stations. They will also compare samples along a line from inner-city Nottingham to rural Nottinghamshire.

The award has helped the school to buy two flat head pH meters and a digital camera to support their work.