Deer & Native Woodlands in the Uplands

This photograph was taken by the Deer Commission for Scotland as part of a helicopter deer count in Breadalbane in 2008. In many of our upland areas, because of grazing by deer and sheep, the only native trees surviving are in gullies and other inaccessible places, as can be seen here.

You can expand this image to full screen size by simply clicking on it, and count the deer yourself. In this case they are all stags.

Can you identify two species of tree present?

Loch Mhor

Despite its tranquil appearance, Loch Mhor isn't the wildlife haven it might once have been. Since the generating plant was installed at Foyers in 1896, the loch has provided water for its turbines. Rapidly fluctuating water levels aren't good news for most species. Nevertheless, ospreys are regular in the summer and on day's like today, it still has a 'wilderness' feel.

Loch Mhor - a gentle dawn

Slow juniper

This seedling germinated in June 2008 from a berry collected in January 2007. The berries were stratified in sand throughout 2007 and this was among the first to germinate. A subject for patient nurserymen.

Some seeds can be stored outside in a pot of compost and sand. They will be ready the following spring. Rabbit netting is secured onto the pot to keep out mice. How to secure it is an interesting problem.

Growing Up With Trees - Part Two

Ash seeds need to be separated then mixed with compost (peat-free of course) and sand. They will be stored for two winters. To have them ready for the next winter they will need a period of heat followed by cold. Contact us to find out more.

Juniper berries

"Slow" is a handy word when talking about Juniper. The bush takes many years to grow to maturity. The berries take 2 years to form and ripen (the green berries shown here will be ready to pick next winter). And growing juniper from seed isn't a quick process either. Of which, more later ...

A prickly start

Natural tree protection

Birch regeneration establishing with the protection of a prickly juniper bush - not an uncommon sight in native woodland in Highland

Juniper

Juniper scrub is fairly widespread in UK, but generally rather scarce outside the Highlands

All tree seeds have to be processed and stored for the winter to maximise their chance of success. These berries are being mashed to remove the seed within.

Growing Up With Trees - Part One

As part of our Growing Up With Trees programme children collect native tree seeds from local woods, to make their own mini-woodland at school. These children are collecting Ash keys which they will plant in their own tree nursery.

Catkins on their way

In sheltered spots in Argyll, catkins are starting to show on the hazel, and there's even a bit of green in the buds..

Atlantic rainforest

Scotland's west coast is the home to Britain's very own rainforest. Not a tropical, but a temperate, rainforest, the hazel and oak woods in Argyll & Lochaber are home to a whole host of non flowering plants, such as the luxuriant lichens showing here. We're part of a partnership aiming to make sure these woods thrive. The partnership has just published a leaflet that you can download at http://www.scottishnativewoods.org.uk/

Veteran Trees in Winter

Winter is a great time to appreciate the many different forms our trees can have.

Hidden on a riverbank in a birch wood, this old sycamore is a survivor from a earlier Policy planting. The A4 clip board in the photo gives you an idea of the size.

The trees multi-stemmed form, a result of past coppicing, casts wonderful shadows in the low winter light.