Holy Trinity Church, Mossley- bench mark

Image: © Jonathan Kington Taken: 14 Feb 2011

Located on the north-west corner of the church, for more information on this and other cut marks visit http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm37324 . For a wider view of the church see Image There are some lovely mosses and lichens growing around it. Lichens are comprised of two, or sometimes more, organisms that live together symbiotically; meaning that one organism requires the presence of another for its survival. The primary, or main, partner of this relationship is a fungus and the other one is a green alga; the fungal partner provides a sheltered environment for the alga, protecting it the elements and providing mineral nutrients. There are several types of lichen: Crustose, that forms a ‘crust’ on whatever it is growing on (the substrate). Some look like leaves and are called foliose lichens, others adopt a ‘shrubby’ form which are called fruticose lichens and there are also gelatinous, or jelly-like, lichens that absorbs and retains water; others look like hairs (filamentous), some are powdery (leprose) and some consist of small scale-like structures (squamulose). Reproduction is usually carried out by producing spores, but vegetative reproduction is also very common. They grow on a very wide range of surfaces-trees, stone and wooden fences to name a few. Lichens provide both shelter and food for many invertebrates including mites, snails, spiders and moths; they also provide material for disguising the nests of small birds such as Chaffinches, Hawfinches, Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits. Because many lichens are sensitive to certain air-borne pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, NPK fertiliser and ammonia for example) they are good indicators of air quality and the distribution data is often used in environmental and ecological management. There are thought to be in excess of 1800 lichens to be found in the UK, with an estimated 17,000+ worldwide. Mosses belong to a group of plants known as Bryophytes which are the oldest plants in the world, dating back at least 400 million years with over 600 species found in Britain and Ireland alone. They are conspicuous, low growing and rootless plants that absorb nutrients from the water that either runs over them or they hold like a sponge. They are considered a "pioneer" plant, taking over rock faces and wet areas and creating a humus layer thus allowing other plants to germinate and gain a foothold. Mosses are asexual, carrying both male and female reproductive organs, after fertilisation these organs produce a tiny capsule that, when ripe, releases thousands of spores which go on to reproduce the next generation.

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