Join naturalist Tom Walker to discover the world of local lichens while exploring the Great Island Trail in the Cape Cod National Seashore. Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed from the union of a fungus and an alga. They stabilize and add nutrients to our soils, provide shelter for invertebrates, and promote soil formation on bare rocks.

While lichens may be found all over the globe and in the harshest of conditions, they thrive in areas with clean air, high humidity, ample sunlight, and moderate temperatures. The constant sea breezes surrounding Cape Cod make it the ideal place to explore lichen diversity. With Tom as our guide, we’ll seek out these fascinating and beautiful organisms.

This walk is co-sponsored by Harwich Conservation Trust and Wellfleet Conservation Trust. 

Photo by Gerry Beetham.