There is a kaleidoscopic beauty to the rich, micro-landscapes of lichens. These organisms are like miniature ecosystems: partnerships between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria that create diverse structures on the surfaces where they grow. Their alien appearance is a reminder of life realms distinct from our own—and of organisms that experience the world in ways we can interpret but never completely understand. 

The beauty of lichens is what drew April Windle to them. Windle is one of just a handful of professional lichenologists in the United Kingdom, spending her time studying a life-form that goes unnoticed by most people. Her work takes her to windswept coasts, ancient woodlands, and wild habitats across the British Isles, where she can attune herself to nature up close.

In the short film Regrowth, Windle reflects on a mental health low during which she entered a cycle of negativity, withdrawing from the things she loved most. “What I realize now that was so important is, I needed to be surrounded by everything and everyone that I love to get better,” she said. 

Alongside the support of family and friends, rekindling her relationship with the natural world— and reviving her love for lichens—opened a window back onto the beauty of life and helped her regain a sense of balance.