SECOND SKIN
This series in the Ash Tree Project looks at the lichens growing on the bark of the trees. The lichens are not exclusive to Ash, but they represent intricate worlds, that will be lost when their host tree dies.
The mysterious families of lichens, combining fungi, algae and cyanobacteria, all feeding and breathing on the bark of the tree, blur the edges of where one organism starts and another begins. In this way they reveal how connected and interdependent we all are.
Lichens and cyanobacteria have played an essential role in the evolution of life on earth, being among the first plants to photosynthesise and create an atmosphere to support other living organisms. Their relationship with the Ash Tree, takes on a further dimension when seen in this light, marking a symbiotic relationship that has existed for millions of years.
These pictures were made using a simple lens, a length of copper pipe and the camera on my mobile phone.
