'Extinct' lichen found in orchard

The golden eye lichen was thought to be extinct in the UK. (c) Herefordshire Orchards Evaluation Project Enlarge Image

A rare lichen which was believed to be extinct in the UK has been rediscovered in a Herefordshire orchard.

The golden eye lichen, which was once common across southern England, was last seen in Cornwall in 1998.

The charity Plantlife said the new location was being kept secret to ensure the lichen's safety.

Air pollution, fertiliser use and fewer orchards were blamed for it dying out but climate change could explain its reappearance, some scientists say.

The golden eye lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) is normally found in dry, sunny climates including Madeira, parts of North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Excited biologists

It had last been spotted in Cornwall on a blackthorn bush, while the last recorded sighting prior to that was in Devon in 1966.

But the recent find on a fallen branch has excited biologists who believed it was extinct.

Cliff Smith, a lichenologist who discovered the plant with colleague Joy Ricketts, said there could be more specimens to be found.

He said: "This species grows best at the top of trees or bushes, in this case at the top of an apple tree.

"It is outside the normal view of lichenologists unless we are nimble enough to climb trees."