Sycamore regeneration along the River Almond

Thick non-native sycamore regeneration here beside the River Almond is shading out native ground vegetation. You can see how close together these young trees are. The Almond flows in to the Tay just above Perth.

caterpillar hammock

This elm leaf has been modified by a caterpillar: the curled up edge of the leaf is all that remains of its pupation. It looks like a rather comfortable hammock.

Horsey tree of Awe

This dead tree near Claddich always seemed to me to have something of the weird horse about it. It's gradually been "enhanced" over the years, and recently sported this fine bonnet.

The Ghost tree of Dalmarnock

Closer........

This tree has been attacked by an overwhelming number of caterpillars, kiling it. This is very rare, and none of the neighbourng trees has been affected.

The Scary pine tree of Strathfillan

Image coming across this on a dark night.........!!

Campion's champion

This fast-flying hawk moth flitted from flower to flower in the garden, stopping for only a few seconds to hover and sip nectar. Not an easy subject to photograph. It was only interested in the red campion, and ignored the garden cultivars. Hence the need to include wild flowers when we're deciding what to grow.

An exotic visitor with a long name

The narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth is an infrequent visitor to my garden in Stratherrrick in Inverness-shire, but neighbours have seen them too, so there must be at least one colony locally.

It is a UK Biodiversity Action Species (BAP). The following is lifted from the Action Plan "Formerly widespread in the UK, the narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth has declined severely and now appears to have retreated to western Britain... this species is classified as Nationally Scarce."

spotting an oak tree

Here's Harry getting out & about in the woods, and finding out a bit more about oak trees for his school project

Volunteers - Tree-planting day

This is a nice open site near Dunfermline. The trees are staked for strength and a tube is fitted to keep off browsing animals such as deer.

This headland is too steep for cultivation but is ideal for planting up new trees.

Lost in a sea of bracken

After trees have been planted it is very important to monitor them and check for competing weeds. Otherwise the trees can lose out. Here the bracken has become taller than the tree tubes.

It is easy to see where the bracken has been sprayed and not sprayed. This stand is all the same plant as it spreads underground by rhizomes. It needs to be regularly cut and sprayed to control it as most animals will not eat it. Pigs however will eat it, so maybe we would benefit from Wild Boar?

tree seeds

The first ripe seeds are appearing on trees. Here's a picture of two wind borne types. Willow produces lots of tiny seeds in white fluff, pretty much like dandelion seed. On a sunny day with a bit of a breeze the air around a willow tree can be full of seed.


Wych elm's seeds are also windborne, but they're substantially bigger Each seed is surrounded by its own wing, which will help to carry the seeds away from the parent tree.

A cool spot

This waterfall was a welcome spot of cool shade after a day on the hill, monitoring progress at a site we help manage near Loch Ness.

The problem

Unfortunately, it's not all woodland idyll. There are large areas of bracken where we would like to regenerate native woodland.

The solution

Pigs are tireless earth-movers. The perfect answer to a sea of bracken...

Scarification

A satisfying sight. A low-carbon alternative to a big machine.

Ready for action

Pigs root in the ground, reduce bracken density and expose mineral soil. This acts as a good seed-bed, especially for small-seeded pioneer species such as birch.

Bracken rhizomes

Bracken rhizomes (roots) are exposed on the ground surface from the pigs' rooting actions

Marking monitoring plots

Fence posts are used to mark monitoring plots. This allows managers to make an objective assessment of changes in vegetation. The posts are numbered by notching.

Refuelling

As with any machine used in woodland management, regular refuelling is required

Scrum

The expected scrum at feeding time

Pork scratchings

Our monitoring posts were driven deep into the ground in anticipation of some attention from livestock. Just as well ...

Group photo from NWDG meeting, 25th April

Pictured supplied by Kevin Peace,Forest District Manager in Fort William.

Growing Up With Trees - Stage Two

Last year the native tree seeds were collected and stored for the winter. In spring it is time to remove them from the mixture of sand and compost, sort the seeds out and re-plant them to leave outside. They need protecting from mice by covering the pots with chicken wire. They should be left in a non-drafty place out of direct sunlight, such as against a north facing wall.

Growing Up With Trees

These native tree seeds have been stored for the winter. Now it's time to plant them in pots. Put them in compost topped off with a little sand.

Elder flower

Elder is the last of the Scottish native trees to flower. In Argyll the flowers are just coming out: you can see buds that have yet to burst in the background. These flowers are the basis for some of our best "Non Timber Forest Products", and it's worth trying elderflower cordial and elderflower sorbet if you get the chance. Reforesting Scotland run a website, http://www.forestharvest.org.uk/ with more information on elder and other NTFPs.

flag iris

The Flag iris is fairly common in the west of Scotland in damp woodlands. It's got a great flower, which unfortunately does no last very long. This one's fresh with morning dew.

Old wild cherry trees in Glenlyon

Birch tree falling apart......

Goat willow bushes in Glenlyon

Many of the broadleaved woods in Breadalbane have a high % of goat willow.......although it is very palatable, it also grows very quickly, and is a very effective pioneer species in wet upland areas such as this. Even in a very heavily browsed area, a number of such bushes seem to be continually becoming established. You can see the browse line on these particular bushes.

Badly browsed goat willow........

Ash growing within some goat willow......

Two trees and a buttercup

Birch in middle of picture, hazel in front. This area is heavily grazed, and there is currently little prospect of either of these seedlings maturing.......

Lone Hawthorn bush

Known in Ireland as a "fairy thorn".

Woods in lower Glenlyon

Ash buds now bursting..........

Ash trees are normally the last to come in to leaf. Tradititionally, if they come out after oak, it is to be a hot summer, before oak, it is to be a wet summer. In practice, there is a lot of variation between individuals in different locations, but, in general, the ash seems to be the last to come out this year.......so it looks like being a hot summer.The glorious hot weather over the past few days have really encouraged them to start to come out now, although it may be a week or more yet before some individuals start to show. Here are a series of photos out and about n Highland Perthshire at the weekend.

Up high in the Sma' Glen

On a scree slope......

Shade along the riverbank

Fresh ash leaves appearing now.....

And again.........

Fresh bird cherry growth

Rowan leaves

Fresh horse chestnut leaves

Although widely planted and readily accepted as part of our current woodland culture (chiefly through children playing conkers), the horse chestnut is not actually native to the UK.....

Horse Chestnut flower

Dappled shade......

Buchanty Spout on the Almond through the trees

Looking up or looking down....??

The leaves here are lime, not native to Scotland either.......(Looking down in to the Almond)

Closer.........