Aspen through the year

Aspen is distinctive at all times of year.

Some Aspen clones stand out in the autumn, when their leaves turn bright yellow. Seen here with silver birch.

There are at least 3 clones in this shot





Not all clones develop bright autumn colours. Some lose their leaves early, others later. Two clones are visible in this picture taken on 25th September. The one on the left is still in full leaf , the one on the right is leafless.

Felling sycamore

We've been busy all this year controlling invasive plants in Glenurquhart, Highland. The work focussed mainly on Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam through the summer, but we are now removing sycamore from Urquhart Bay Woods. These alder-ash woods are designated as a Special Area for Conservation.

Women with a cause?

We work closely with the Community Woodlands Association, and this is a picture from their annual conference. Here's Lesley Riddoch being presented with one of a series of wooden women produced by Kenny Grieve. He made them for a breast cancer awareness event in Edinburgh, but was not allowed to use them for "health & safety" reasons: Lesley's promised to take up the banner!

Loch Lomond Islands

Scottish Native Woods have a number of interesting sites throughout the country. Here we are getting a boat trip back from one of the islands in Loch Lomond, an SSSI site with a number of important management issues.

A Hidden Gem

When out surveying I came across an old orchard consisting of a dozen or so apple trees. The form of the trees indicated they had a history of good management. However now neglected, they stand unprotected in a field.

There was a heavy crop of apples on all trees, many lying as windfalls for the birds to feed on. A few did make there way into a tasty apple pie!

Who's been eating the trees?

During the autumn we have been checking the new native woodland schemes, like this one planted in the Spring of 2006. The oak, birch and wild cherry or gean are establishing well, protected in the 1.2 metre high shelters.

The shrubs however are not doing so well.

The prickly blackthorn is no defence against the attentions of the local roe deer population who have repeatedly browsed these plants. Management of this site is being reviewed and a couple of years of reducing the numbers of roe deer will allow these shrubs to grow above browsing height. Think of the other wildlife that will benefit; grateful insects who will feed on the resulting spring blossom and the birds feeding on the sloes in autumn. There may even be enough left for your sloe gin!

autumn

Out in the west, many of the trees have now lost their leaves, however there are still a few showing some colour, such as this oak tree, looking like a ghost in among the bare birch trees..





..while just around the corner, this hazel tree is still defying the end of summer: not a hint of colour yet.