Lichen: Lecidella elaeochroma -

I always think that this lichen, Lecidella elaeochroma, looks like a child has been drawing with a pencil on the bark of the tree (purely as my drawing ability is so poor and it looks my attempt at drawing but I would not want anyone to know!). These lichen form a crust on the bark of a tree and have blackish edges which merge together to form a larger mass giving the impression of continuous wiggly lines. In the centre of each distinct area there are black specks, some more pronounced than others.

This is quite a common in south western Britain if you take the trouble to look for it! It grows on all kinds of trees and also on fences but it shows up best on the light coloured, smooth bark of willows and sallow as well as on silver birch.