Cryptogams: Spores & More

For those who want to dive deeper into the world of cryptogams, several authoritative organisations and educational websites offer excellent resources, ranging from beginner field guides to citizen science projects.

1. The British Bryological Society (BBS)

This is the go-to resource for mosses, liverworts, and hornworts in the UK.

• What they offer: A comprehensive "Field Guide" (available as a book and online snippets), species galleries, and information on local recording groups.

• Best for: Identifying specific mosses and liverworts you find on your walks.

• Website: britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk

2. The British Lichen Society (BLS)

The BLS is dedicated to the study and conservation of lichens.

• What they offer: An extensive "Learning Zone" with educational projects for schools, university students, and beginners. They also provide a "Churchyard Lichen Guide" which is perfect for your local explorations.

• Best for: Understanding the symbiosis of lichens and using them to monitor air quality.

• Website: britishlichensociety.org.uk

3. The British Mycological Society (BMS)

The primary hub for fungi and mycology in Britain.

• What they offer: A dedicated "Education" section with activities like "how to make a spore print" and resources for all ages, from primary school to university.

• Best for: Learning the science behind fungi and the "Wood Wide Web."

• Website: britmycolsoc.org.uk

4. The Woodland Trust

One of the UK's leading conservation charities, they have excellent "Beginner's Guides" to woodland life.

• What they offer: A-Z guides for British trees, mosses, and lichens. Their blog posts are very readable and include high-quality photography to help with identification.

• Best for: Casual learners who want to identify cryptogams within a woodland context.

• Website: woodlandtrust.org.uk

5. NatureScot: The "Hidden Kingdom"

Scotland’s nature agency provides a beautiful digital hub for cryptogamic life.

• What they offer: Short films and guides on the "Celtic Rainforest," highlighting the international importance of the UK's damp, mossy, and lichen-rich ravines.

• Best for: Visual learners and those interested in the ecological significance of temperate rainforests.

• Website: nature.scot

6. The Field Studies Council (FSC)

The FSC is a leading provider of environmental education in the UK.

• What they offer: They sell highly-regarded "fold-out charts" for identifying lichens, mosses, and ferns. These are plastic-coated and designed specifically to be taken out into the field.

• Best for: Practical learners who want a physical, durable guide to take on their "scavenger hunts."

• Website: field-studies-council.org

7. Cryptogamiacs (University of Edinburgh)

A modern, "seriously cool" educational blog run by researchers.

• What they offer: Engaging posts that explain complex cryptogamic research in simple terms, focusing on how these organisms act as sentinels for climate change.

• Best for: Understanding current scientific research and the future of cryptogamic botany.

• Website: cryptogamiacs.geos.ed.ac.uk