High Weald Medieval Deer Park Lobaria pulmonaria on Ash 14.09.24

I am unable to name the location of this lichen, as the owner of this park does not want any bioologcal observations on his property to be in the public domain,

Once common and widespread, they're now pushed to the westernmost extremities of the UK due to air pollution. Woodland Trust Lungwort Lichens

Ash, Fraxinus excelsior

This Ash is not in good conditions, so this lichen is very vulnarable

Lobaria pulmonaria

This is probably the last Lobaria pulmonaria left in Sussex, but formerly it was not alone. Here is a screen shot of the British Lichen Society database for Sussex's L. pulmonaria listings.

It was recorded at East Dean Park Wood, Parham Park, and St Leonard's Forest as well as this site

In the Atlas of Sussex Mosses, Liverworst and Lichen (1991) Rose, F, Stern R.C, Matcham H. W. & Coppins B.J.  Borough of Brighton, Booth Museum of Natural History Lobaria pulmonaira is listed at

L0857 L. pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.

On mature trees in ancient parklands; formerly locally frequent in the High Weald, now very rare. Still 41/91 at East Dean Park Wood, 1970, 1989 (on one Quercus and two Fraxinus; 51/01 Parham Park, 1988, on two Quercus; 51/53 Eridge Park, on six trees, 1968; still on one Acer and one Fraxinus, 1988. (Formerly also on the sandrocks.) [Old records (in BM) for 41/80 West Stoke; 51/22, 23 St Leonards Forest; 33 Balcombe, Ardingly Sandrocks; 53 Eridge Park and Rocks, 1842; 71 Ashes Wood; 81 Broomham, E.N. Bloomfield.]

This Atlas is now very out of date, as, in all bar one of these locations, P. lobaria has gone. However, this atlas is an extremely important evidnce of what was once in Sussex but has now gone.

Lobaria changes between 1986-1998 included atmospheric pollution, which was a major cause of decline, particularly from SO2 and acid rain. Changes in woodland management, such as heavy thinning and shorter rotation periods, also led to a decline by creating drier conditions and disrupting the continuity of old-growth forests. Habitat-related factors, such as the loss of veteran trees, and microclimatic changes were also key contributors to the population changes observed during this period Wolseley, Patricia & James, P.. (2000). Factors affecting changes in species of Lobaria in sites across Britain 1986-1998. Forest Snow and Landscape Research. 75. 319-338. 

We know see L. pulmonaria as a charaterist lichen of Atlantic woodlands (temperate rain forest) but it hard a much wider distibution, especially in Southern Oceanic Park Woodlands