Nicholas Carter
@neacarter.bsky.social
Lecturer, University of Oxford
Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
Writer - rep’d by Curtis Brown
‘Living Stone’ out Spring 2028 on Penguin
All things stone
linktr.ee/neacarter
Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
Writer - rep’d by Curtis Brown
‘Living Stone’ out Spring 2028 on Penguin
All things stone
linktr.ee/neacarter
Pinned
It’s not every day you sign your first book deal. Delighted that ‘Living Stone’ has found a home at Penguin Books. Publishing Spring 2028. As time goes on, I’m going to post about the writing of it over on Instagram. But for now here’s Cormoran’s stony heart on my author guide 🐧❤️
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
‘If we are seeking to reassert women’s presence in our public spaces, where better to look than to the very legacies they themselves constructed’. My latest article for @uk.theconversation.com is inspired by a new statue of @ballioloxford.bsky.social’s
co-founder, Dervorguilla of Galloway.
co-founder, Dervorguilla of Galloway.
As creators of educational, religious and charitable institutions, women of means found ways to circumvent the patriarchal power structures of medieval society.
Medieval women’s legacies live on in Britain’s towns and cities
As creators of educational, religious and charitable institutions, women of means found ways to circumvent the patriarchal power structures of medieval society.
tcnv.link
November 11, 2025 at 8:20 AM
‘If we are seeking to reassert women’s presence in our public spaces, where better to look than to the very legacies they themselves constructed’. My latest article for @uk.theconversation.com is inspired by a new statue of @ballioloxford.bsky.social’s
co-founder, Dervorguilla of Galloway.
co-founder, Dervorguilla of Galloway.
It’s been a fantastic field trip on the Isle of Portland with the @oxfordgeography.bsky.social 1st Year geographers. Coast, quarry and sculpture exhibition all feeding keen senses of enquiry. Think one or two may have caught the lichen bug too.
October 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
It’s been a fantastic field trip on the Isle of Portland with the @oxfordgeography.bsky.social 1st Year geographers. Coast, quarry and sculpture exhibition all feeding keen senses of enquiry. Think one or two may have caught the lichen bug too.
It’s not every day you sign your first book deal. Delighted that ‘Living Stone’ has found a home at Penguin Books. Publishing Spring 2028. As time goes on, I’m going to post about the writing of it over on Instagram. But for now here’s Cormoran’s stony heart on my author guide 🐧❤️
October 20, 2025 at 7:45 PM
It’s not every day you sign your first book deal. Delighted that ‘Living Stone’ has found a home at Penguin Books. Publishing Spring 2028. As time goes on, I’m going to post about the writing of it over on Instagram. But for now here’s Cormoran’s stony heart on my author guide 🐧❤️
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Step inside the world of green careers: from hidden paths you’ve never considered, to hands-on roles shaping the future of our planet. Talk to the people already out there and hear how they got their start. Build practical skills that help you move forward and look great on your CV.
buff.ly/jnpm93w
buff.ly/jnpm93w
October 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Step inside the world of green careers: from hidden paths you’ve never considered, to hands-on roles shaping the future of our planet. Talk to the people already out there and hear how they got their start. Build practical skills that help you move forward and look great on your CV.
buff.ly/jnpm93w
buff.ly/jnpm93w
Great evening with @racheldelman.bsky.social and @stoneclub.bsky.social at @soanemuseum.bsky.social last night for Fragments and Ruins. An unfolding labyrinth of stony wonder introduced by the magical words of the late, great Brian Catling. Thank you to all!
September 27, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Great evening with @racheldelman.bsky.social and @stoneclub.bsky.social at @soanemuseum.bsky.social last night for Fragments and Ruins. An unfolding labyrinth of stony wonder introduced by the magical words of the late, great Brian Catling. Thank you to all!
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Its here!
The first ever Ancient Times, our new zine covering everything stone related and beyond.
This issue contains French Megaliths, Daniel Gumb, Flint, Stonehenge, Druids and more!
40 pages of stone-mania.
Copies will be shipped in October.
stoneclub.bigcartel.com/product/anci...
The first ever Ancient Times, our new zine covering everything stone related and beyond.
This issue contains French Megaliths, Daniel Gumb, Flint, Stonehenge, Druids and more!
40 pages of stone-mania.
Copies will be shipped in October.
stoneclub.bigcartel.com/product/anci...
September 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Its here!
The first ever Ancient Times, our new zine covering everything stone related and beyond.
This issue contains French Megaliths, Daniel Gumb, Flint, Stonehenge, Druids and more!
40 pages of stone-mania.
Copies will be shipped in October.
stoneclub.bigcartel.com/product/anci...
The first ever Ancient Times, our new zine covering everything stone related and beyond.
This issue contains French Megaliths, Daniel Gumb, Flint, Stonehenge, Druids and more!
40 pages of stone-mania.
Copies will be shipped in October.
stoneclub.bigcartel.com/product/anci...
It was a huge honour to be welcomed into the @linneansociety.bsky.social recently as a new Fellow. Such a beautiful building, packed full of nature’s stories.
September 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM
It was a huge honour to be welcomed into the @linneansociety.bsky.social recently as a new Fellow. Such a beautiful building, packed full of nature’s stories.
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
The time is nigh! Something new is coming. It’s in the woods. It’s coming!
Send us your submissions!
Articles! Photo diaries! Reviews! Enthusiasms! Unexpected Tales! UFO Sightings! Favourite Stones!
Whatever takes your fancy!
Email us via our contact form on the website, or slide into our DMs 😉
Send us your submissions!
Articles! Photo diaries! Reviews! Enthusiasms! Unexpected Tales! UFO Sightings! Favourite Stones!
Whatever takes your fancy!
Email us via our contact form on the website, or slide into our DMs 😉
September 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The time is nigh! Something new is coming. It’s in the woods. It’s coming!
Send us your submissions!
Articles! Photo diaries! Reviews! Enthusiasms! Unexpected Tales! UFO Sightings! Favourite Stones!
Whatever takes your fancy!
Email us via our contact form on the website, or slide into our DMs 😉
Send us your submissions!
Articles! Photo diaries! Reviews! Enthusiasms! Unexpected Tales! UFO Sightings! Favourite Stones!
Whatever takes your fancy!
Email us via our contact form on the website, or slide into our DMs 😉
Looking forward to talking about the lichens and the living stone of Blenheim Palace on this course for Oxford Lifelong Learning on October 7th. Places still available!
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/natu...
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/natu...
Nature in the Historic Built Environment: How to Make the Most of it
Managing nature around historic buildings can be a challenge. But it also presents exciting opportunities for engagement and conservation. This course will introduce new research, policy trends and ca...
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk
September 12, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Looking forward to talking about the lichens and the living stone of Blenheim Palace on this course for Oxford Lifelong Learning on October 7th. Places still available!
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/natu...
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/natu...
Oh my, what an amazing opportunity in such a wonderful location :)
An opportunity of a lifetime for budding lichenologists. The National Trust and the Royal Botanics, Edinburgh are offering a PAID lichen traineeship in #Scotland! The work programme looks fascinating and a great opportunity to develop skills. Deadline: 3/10/2025. www.asva.co.uk/jobs/trainee...
September 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Oh my, what an amazing opportunity in such a wonderful location :)
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Save the date! Saturday 4 October is a Black British Folk Renaissance and you are invited. I’ve nurtured this idea for a few years now, so I’m thrilled that @efdss.bsky.social will be hosting it at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social See you there! 🖤 www.efdss.org/whats-on/26-...
August 31, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Save the date! Saturday 4 October is a Black British Folk Renaissance and you are invited. I’ve nurtured this idea for a few years now, so I’m thrilled that @efdss.bsky.social will be hosting it at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social See you there! 🖤 www.efdss.org/whats-on/26-...
Thank you for having me over @blenheimpalace.bsky.social for an armchair talk (sorry, couldn’t help but prowl for most of it!) about my research into Blenheim’s lichens and seeing stone differently. And so glad the escaped convict’s skull dressed in glorious Parmelia didn’t cause too great a stir ☠️🦠
July 31, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Thank you for having me over @blenheimpalace.bsky.social for an armchair talk (sorry, couldn’t help but prowl for most of it!) about my research into Blenheim’s lichens and seeing stone differently. And so glad the escaped convict’s skull dressed in glorious Parmelia didn’t cause too great a stir ☠️🦠
Wonderful evening with the brilliant Matthew and Lally at @stoneclub.bsky.social. Particularly listening to @lallymacbeth.bsky.social talking about all things folk and my old stomping ground of Painswick in Gloucestershire… just don’t mention the song ;)
July 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Wonderful evening with the brilliant Matthew and Lally at @stoneclub.bsky.social. Particularly listening to @lallymacbeth.bsky.social talking about all things folk and my old stomping ground of Painswick in Gloucestershire… just don’t mention the song ;)
Sandstone @harvingtonhall.bsky.social, framing, bridging, laying foundations. Depth, warmth, colour #Stone #Sandstone #HistoricBuildings #Buildings #Weathering
July 27, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Sandstone @harvingtonhall.bsky.social, framing, bridging, laying foundations. Depth, warmth, colour #Stone #Sandstone #HistoricBuildings #Buildings #Weathering
Very much looking forward to this. I’ll be talking about my research into Blenheim’s lichens, their cultural history and the life of stone. Hope to see you there!
Date: Tuesday 29th July, 6pm
Place: Blenheim Palace
blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/event…
Date: Tuesday 29th July, 6pm
Place: Blenheim Palace
blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/event…
July 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Very much looking forward to this. I’ll be talking about my research into Blenheim’s lichens, their cultural history and the life of stone. Hope to see you there!
Date: Tuesday 29th July, 6pm
Place: Blenheim Palace
blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/event…
Date: Tuesday 29th July, 6pm
Place: Blenheim Palace
blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/event…
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
#lichenGBI Caloplaca teicholyta with apothecia. First time I’ve seen it fertile. On calcareous ironstone, Warwickshire, UK. Used video to catch the red reaction on the apothecial section, as it dissolved out rapidly. The soredia gave a faint pinkish reaction to K (not really ‘dull violet’) >
May 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
#lichenGBI Caloplaca teicholyta with apothecia. First time I’ve seen it fertile. On calcareous ironstone, Warwickshire, UK. Used video to catch the red reaction on the apothecial section, as it dissolved out rapidly. The soredia gave a faint pinkish reaction to K (not really ‘dull violet’) >
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
The @britishlichensociety.org.uk LEAF course taught me that my road, Brighton, is typical of Xanthoria parietina-Physconia grisea community (Physcietum ascendentis): well-lit trees, urban areas: Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physconia grisea, Physcia adscendens & X. parietina
June 7, 2025 at 6:28 AM
The @britishlichensociety.org.uk LEAF course taught me that my road, Brighton, is typical of Xanthoria parietina-Physconia grisea community (Physcietum ascendentis): well-lit trees, urban areas: Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physconia grisea, Physcia adscendens & X. parietina
Stepped into the wonderful world of tree lichens this weekend with @britishlichensociety.org.uk in Somerset. It’s both challenged and enriched how I think about rock and stone lichens and I’ll be exploring those crevices more closely from now on 🔬👀
June 1, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Stepped into the wonderful world of tree lichens this weekend with @britishlichensociety.org.uk in Somerset. It’s both challenged and enriched how I think about rock and stone lichens and I’ll be exploring those crevices more closely from now on 🔬👀
Natural history museums are our most complete records of life on Earth and environmental change. Great talk by @jackdashby.bsky.social at @morethanadodo.bsky.social this evening. And what a lovely book cover 🐚💚
May 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Natural history museums are our most complete records of life on Earth and environmental change. Great talk by @jackdashby.bsky.social at @morethanadodo.bsky.social this evening. And what a lovely book cover 🐚💚
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Delighted my new article on stone lichens and conservation is out with @uk.theconversation.com. It’s time to think differently about stone…
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
How lichens are bringing stone to life and reconnecting us with the natural world
Lichens bridge the living and non-living – understanding them allows us to better see how to conserve our heritage, and also ourselves.
theconversation.com
May 17, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Delighted my new article on stone lichens and conservation is out with @uk.theconversation.com. It’s time to think differently about stone…
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
LIFELINES is published today, 25 years after my wife and I arrived in northern Greece with the aim of changing our lives. It's a book about shelter and generosity, borders and brown bears, people and pelicans. It's about how the lifelines of the world hold together the greater home of us all.
May 15, 2025 at 8:35 AM
LIFELINES is published today, 25 years after my wife and I arrived in northern Greece with the aim of changing our lives. It's a book about shelter and generosity, borders and brown bears, people and pelicans. It's about how the lifelines of the world hold together the greater home of us all.
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
A patch of licheny material on a mossy brick wall in my garden looks to be Vezdaea leprosa, with tiny loosely organised apothecia and long squirly paraphyses. 1st occurrence in VC28.
May 18, 2025 at 4:31 PM
A patch of licheny material on a mossy brick wall in my garden looks to be Vezdaea leprosa, with tiny loosely organised apothecia and long squirly paraphyses. 1st occurrence in VC28.
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Interesting link to article about different perceptions of lichen interactions with building stone
Lichens as ecosystems? Interesting long read by @neacarter.bsky.social
I have strong memories of surveying lichens aged c12yo for some NGO. Must have been part of campaign against acid rain. Citizen science by snail mail.
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
I have strong memories of surveying lichens aged c12yo for some NGO. Must have been part of campaign against acid rain. Citizen science by snail mail.
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
How lichens are bringing stone to life and reconnecting us with the natural world
Lichens bridge the living and non-living – understanding them allows us to better see how to conserve our heritage, and also ourselves.
theconversation.com
May 17, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Interesting link to article about different perceptions of lichen interactions with building stone
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
On the wee red hill An Ruadh Mheallan in Torridon, on the way down at 500m asl we saw a lot of Alectoria nigricans lichen on top of an erratic sandstone boulder above the gneiss, presumably out of reach of munchers and tramplers. #LichenGBI
May 16, 2025 at 9:35 PM
On the wee red hill An Ruadh Mheallan in Torridon, on the way down at 500m asl we saw a lot of Alectoria nigricans lichen on top of an erratic sandstone boulder above the gneiss, presumably out of reach of munchers and tramplers. #LichenGBI
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
"Arguably, much of how we define something depends on our relationship with it and how we choose to see it. How we value the living in relation to the non-living plays out in how we define lichens; we need to acknowledge the importance and value of both. In doing so...
Delighted my new article on stone lichens and conservation is out with @uk.theconversation.com. It’s time to think differently about stone…
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
theconversation.com/how-lichens-...
How lichens are bringing stone to life and reconnecting us with the natural world
Lichens bridge the living and non-living – understanding them allows us to better see how to conserve our heritage, and also ourselves.
theconversation.com
May 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
"Arguably, much of how we define something depends on our relationship with it and how we choose to see it. How we value the living in relation to the non-living plays out in how we define lichens; we need to acknowledge the importance and value of both. In doing so...