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.........

Bluebells at Monzie, north of Gilmerton, Crieff

Closer........

Hawthorn blossom

Closer.........

Oak trees now fully in leaf........

Picnic Place in the Sma Glen, Highland Perthshire

This is an excellent place to stop off for a break if you are travelling between Crieff and Aberfeldy...lovely peaceful stretch of water in the Sma Glen........

Looking the other way.........

Daisies, daisies everywhere.........

The world's largest Canadian Canoe

The world's largest Canadian canoe is travelling around Scotland. In addition to bringing groups of Canadians across to paddle, they are also getting help from community groups as they head up the west coast. The canoe has been painted by Xa-lack-tun, who has helped a number of community woodland groups with totem pole projects over the years. #
Here's the 42 foot boat going through the Crinan Canal before heading out through the Dorus Mor. I joined them for this leg, when the canoe sprouted a mast & sail. With wind and tide in our favour we were moving along at up to 7.5 knots! More at www.spiritdancercanoejourneys.ca/

More bluebells......

This photo submitted by Jock Monteith..........bluebells on the banks of the Tay at Dunkeld.....

Spanish bluebells

We've had another fine year for bluebells in Scotland, and hope that you've had the chance to get out in the woods & appreciate them.

Here's a shot of a less welcome type of bluebell, the Spanish bluebell. This imported variety tends to be a bit paler in colour, and does not have the drooping flower stalk of our native bluebell. It also lacks the attractive smell that you get from our bluebells. Unfortunately the Spanish bluebell hybridises with the native species, and is spreading. If you want to plant bluebells in your garden, please make sure they are the native variety.

Clearing Rhododendron ponticum

This picture shows the result of the first stage of clearing invasive Rhododendron ponticum from a site in Cowal. The work's being done by the owner with lots of help from local workers and volunteers. The stumps have been left long for the next stage, when a variant of the Morvern "lever and mulch" technique will use the long stems to break out the roots of the bushes. The purple flowers of ponticum are one of its few redeeming features, however it casts a shade so dense that no other flowers survive.
This second picture shows the bluebells just beyond the edge of the ponticum. We're confident that these bluebells will spread onto the bare ground above, providing a different colour in the spring, and better biodiversity throughout the year.

Bluebells in Glenlyon

Bluebells at at their peak just now. Here are a number of photos from Glenlyon in Perthshire at the weekend........

Close-up of bluebells

A sea of blue......

And again......

And again.......

And again......

And again.......

Young oak tree in a sea of blue

Young hazel stool

Alder in front, hazel coppice behind

More Hazel coppice

Bird Cherry Blossom

By the river Lyon

By the roadside

Bird cherry is usually little more than a large-ish bush.....

Lichen.....

Hazel seedling in the sun at Kinnighallen Farm, Glenlyon

Lost in Fife......!!

This picture shows staff from Scottish Native Woods discussing ground flora on a lovely ash-dominated woodland area on Cults hill in Fife. There were many old limestone workings in the area and the base -rich soils are supporting this woodland type with it's rich and diverse ground flora. Sycamore trees are threatening to dominate parts of this area, creating extra shade and potentially harming this floristic interest. Scottish Native Woods will shortly be beginning a programme of works here to remove up to 400 tonnes of the non-native sycamore that can be used in local firewood enterprises, and hopefully reduce this threat to an important and very distinctive ancient woodland site.

Looking out across Fife........

Nice view through woodland on Cults hill

And again.......

Secured ash regeneration.......

kayak in hunt for aspen roots

Have been busy collecting aspen roots, including some from a remote spot on the west coast. The easiest way to the trees seemed to be by sea, which was a good reason to break out the kayak on a sunny morning. The forward hatch stored most of the gear required, except for the spade, which went on the rear deck with the spare paddle.