The main issue for the loss of all three of the lichen species is loss of habitat – a really particular need for not much vegetation, open soil dominating habitat – and that’s what has been lost in a lot of the Breckland area.
The technique used to move the species, known as translocation, involves carefully removing small patches of the lichen and using either water or bookbinding glue to reattach them to their new habitat.
Dave Lamacraft, Plantlife’s lichen and bryophyte specialist, said he had to investigate different types of glue to find one that would not damage the lichen.
Through trial and error using different types of glue, bookbinding glue was found to have the correct pH for the lichen and was also waterproof.
He said: “There’s a study from work in Spain with ecologically similar lichen species and similar habitat, clay calcareous soils.
