Lichen writing

I felt in need of fresh-air and decided to go out to Fineshade to photograph an uncommon elm. But when the traffic came to a standstill, I turned off and ended up Barnack Hills and Holes NNR, having taken a rather devious route via Collyweston and Stamford.

The wind was still gusting to over 40 mph, so I was limited to photographing objects that didn't blow around, mostly lichens on a sheltered limestone wall. This rather distinctive species is Opegrapha calcarea - I assume that the generic name relates to the fact that the reproductive parts look rather like black writing. This is quite a local species, most often found on the coast, but also occurring on limestone in shaded, sheltered locations - just the place to be in a storm!