Exploring Lichens at Forest School

Forest School sessions are always full of fun and educational activities that connect children with nature. Last weekend we ran a Forest School event at RSPB Mersehead that focused on lichens as the previous month one of the children had shown a lot of curiosity about them.

Lichens are a unique and often overlooked part of the natural world. During the session, the children learned that lichens are composite organisms made up of fungus and algae in a symbiotic relationship and that lichens are indicators of air quality, making them important bioindicators in monitoring environmental health. They discovered that lichens can be found on various surfaces, including trees, rocks, and on the ground. There is a wooden bench at Mersehead that is covered in many different ones.

Equipped with specimen pots, clipboards and ID charts, the children went off to see how many different types of lichens they could spot and tick off on their charts. They collected samples of lichens that had fallen to the ground in their pots to investigate further.

We used a really good lichen ID chart 'Lichens on twigs' from the Field Studies Council. There are 60 lichens illustrated on the chart and these are just the ones on twigs, never mind all those on other surfaces! https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publications/lichens-on-twigs-guide/

The children got creative making clay faces on trees. with clay as the base, they used leaves, twigs, lichen and other natural materials to make faces on tree trunks. The children let their imaginations run wild. We had an owl and even granny and grandad!

No Forest School session is complete without a campfire treat! The children gathered around the fire circle, taking turns to toast their marshmallows and enjoying the gooey treat.

Forest School provides invaluable experiences that connect children with nature and foster a deep appreciation for the environment.