Lichen

John Cousins (November)

After an amazing autumn in Wales the wild weather is finally stripping the trees of all their leaves. To keep the interest going you have to look a little closer and my eye was drawn to this Crab Apple tree on Moel Eilio because of the one remaining apple (out of focus at the back of the picture). The wonderful sight when you look closely is this collection of colourful and elaborate lichens growing all over the branches of the tree. I can't tell you their names and am reassured to be informed that in many cases you need a chemistry set to 'nail' the species but what I do know is that they signify pure air and weâÂ.Â.ve certainly got plenty of that.