This lichen/moss please?

Hi a fellow volunteer in the woodland took a photo and asked me to I'd it. No chance! I also happened to have photographed the same type on Monday as it was looking so good. Any ideas please?


And his photo

 

Looks like lichen to me, rather than moss.
That's as far as I go.

 

Well I was hedging my bets it certainly looks like lichen. It was looking really silvery in the sun on Monday

 

I would certainly plump for Lichen. I have clumps of it in my wee wood. Might be wrong but I think it shows the air is very pure hence why you seldom see it growing in built up areas. What type of Lichen? absolutely not a clue I am afraid.

 

I see quite a bit of lichen on trees around here at this time of year, I've heard them say it is a sign of clean air but cant say the air is that clean, I even get certain types growing on my asbestos roofed shed.
I think its more about the surface being right for the certain types grow on.

Maybe some need clean air.

 

Yes, they are different kinds of lichen. These below were growing on the pine trees in my previous garden, they're harmless and tend to grow in unpolluted air. In some areas of Scotland the lichen hangs like streamers from the trees.

 

The woodland we volunteer in is about 2700acres of mainly coniferous right at the edge of Pembrey sands - glorious clean air so we have lots of lichen

 

One of my favourite things to see when out and about. We have plenty of lichen around here.
As @Sheal says, it can come in many forms and hangs off trees and covers rocks etc in lots of places up here.
I don't know the names of various types, but it's always lovely to see them, and I often take pix.
This is on one of my favourite hills - The Brack.

 

I would agree with lichen. Down here in Cornwall the air is very clean so we have lots of lichen growing on trees, the wind breaks them off so there are clumps of it on the ground under trees. It looks lovely in the sunshine, drapes of it everywhere. No idea of any names though.

 

It
seems that they have a fan club, who would have guessed this.
Welcome to the British Lichen Society | The British Lichen Society

 

@CarolineL What you found is, I believe, one of the Cladonia sp. of Reindeer moss/lichen.
Down here in Kernow, I've often come across it on the moors. I've only seen it during periods of warm, dry weather when it is very brittle, but I suspect it becomes a lot less brittle when wet.
Cladonia portentosa(?) on Zennor moor,

 

Thanks @Fof ! And for the link @infradig !
I shall now hunt a bit further to confirm.