Show love for nature's hero

Lichens are often dismissed as stains but they're incredibly beneficial to us and our ecosystem

- With DIARMUID GAVIN

Recently I was asked how to remove stains from a path.

My initial reaction was to suggest a power wash as this will usually leave the place spick and span. However on closer inspection the stains appeared to be a form of plant life, namely lichens, growing on the path.

Lichens are a unique combination of two different organisms. They combine a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria. These live together, the fungus providing shelter for the algae, and the algae providing carbohydrates via photosynthesis in turn. This is an example of a symbiotic relationship which is mutually beneficial to both species.