Signpost finds its way to Natural History Museum

A LICHEN-COVERED finger-post has gone on display at the Natural History Museum in London.

- ATHWENNA IRONS

The sign from Exmoor National Park, specially selected due to being covered in twelve rare lichens, features in the 'Fixing Our Broken Plant' exhibition at the major tourist attraction in South Kensington.

It was chosen as a prime example of a man-made item that has been recolonised by nature and of an item recovered from an area with clean air.

The Natural History Museum has been working with the National Park for some time to select the best exhibit, sending a renowned lichen specialist, Pat Wolseley to study the species growing on old Exmoor signposts.

The post, originally put in during April 2010 by ranger Tim Parish near Trentishoe Common in North Devon, was collected by lichen curator Gothamie Weerakoon and transported to the capital.