The journal sought to address the scarcity of contemporary literature on British lichen taxonomy by providing detailed articles to assist botanists in identifying local species.

Emphasising the balance between research and the ecological impact of specimen collection, The Lichenologist advocated for careful, responsible study practices to avoid harming these slow-growing organisms.

[7] Crittenden introduced thematic issues focusing on specific topics within lichenology, which helped to consolidate research in particular areas and increase reader engagement.

In response to evolving nomenclatural requirements, the journal introduced the obligate registration of new fungal names, ensuring that taxonomic contributions met the latest standards in the field.

This decision encouraged authors to contextualise new species descriptions within broader taxonomic or ecological frameworks, thereby increasing the overall impact and usefulness of such contributions.

Despite initial concerns, this policy change did not decrease the number of new species described in the journal; instead, it led to more comprehensive and valuable taxonomic papers.