Bench Mark, The Church of St Nicholas

Image: © Maigheach-gheal Taken: 30 Jun 2010

The bench mark is to be found on the southern angle of the church Image For more information about the cut mark http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm34889 A bench mark is an Ordnance Survey arrowhead sign found on walls, bridges, churches and specially erected triangulation pillars where the altitude above sea-level has been accurately measured by surveyors. The arrowhead points to a horizontal line above it which marks the exact altitude. With rivets and pivots there is no datum (horizontal line) cut, the pointed-to horizontal surface defining the datum height. The walls of the church is covered in orange patches of lichen. Lichens do not have roots, but absorb water and gases through their upper surface, and are therefore sensitive to atmospheric pollution. For this reason they are rarely found around cities and grow best on the wetter west side of the British Isles. Those on trees thrive best on the sunny, south-west aspects of trunks and branches. Disappearance of lichen species can be used to detect rising levels of air pollution. There are three main types. The encrusting forms, including the bright orange/dark yellow 'Xanthoria' grow on roofs, walls, gravestones, signs and tree trunks. Leaf-like species develop flat lobes spreading over bark or stones, and shrubby forms which grow vertically from the ground or hang from trees. Few have common names.

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