"Oak Moss" ( Evernia prunastri )

While out for a walk I noticed the recent gales had dislodged Lichens from the trees.  Seeing the opportunity for a blip I gathered some to take home.  Some were on twigs others loose clumps blown off the twigs.

E prunastri is a common lichen found over most of the country apart from areas with high SO2 pollution.  With clean air, it will grow on almost any species of tree not just, as the common name suggests, oak.  It seems the Lichen is used commercially in perfumes and also in some areas for biomonitoring heavy metals in the air.