Lichen to thrill as rare Golden-eye is discovered in South Wales

A rare, bright yellow lichen, which until recently was believed to be extinct in the UK, has been found by University of Bristol postgraduate students during a recent field trip to South Wales. The MSc students, together with their lecturer Dr Paul Smith, discovered the Golden-eye lichen ( Teloschistes chrysophthalmus ) whilst they were studying the ecology of coal waste in Glamorgan. The find was confirmed by Professor Mark Seaward of the British Lichen Society following identification from a photograph. The University team were examining bryophyte and lichen communities on the restored spoil heaps at Dare Valley Country Park in Aberdare. Dr Smith, a professional botanist who teaches at the University, was training the students in the techniques of detailed field observation when postgraduate student, Emma Burak, noticed an unusual specimen. This led to the discovery of a new species record for Wales. Emma Burak, an MSc Water and Environmental Management student, who found the lichen, said: "I have spotted four-leaf clovers in the past but never a rare lichen.