Looking through a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) out in Argyll, and came across this old pathway through the wood. Someone put a fair bit of work into cutting a path into the hillside. It would have been wide enough for a person or a horse.
Further on there's the remains of a gateway through a dyke. Research indicates the dyke was probably built in the 1820's.
Argyll National Farmers Union and the Agriculture Forum had a joint meeting at Ardkinglas Estate, taking in a view of some of the native woodland work that Scottish Native Woods have been involved with at Ardkinglas.
The participants had a lively session on the impact of forestry expansion on the farming sector. John Semple, Regional NFU Chairman, and Sid House, FC Conservator are listened to by Andrew Barbour, a past Scottish Native Woods trustee. Andrew has just been appointed to head the Scottish Government's Woodland Advisory Group, which will be looking at the balance between woodland creation and farming activity.
After the forestry session, the participants moved on to inspect some shearling blackface tups from Pole Farm (before a final stop and a tasting session at Fyne Ales).
Certain plants are used as indicators of the history of woodland cover on a site. When out in the Caledonian Pinewoods at this time of year it is worth keeping a look out on the forest floor for a few of these pinewood indicator plants.
The lime green hummocks of Ostrich-plume feather moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis) stand out in the low light conditions of the wood. This moss gets is name from its resemblance to an ostrich feather.
Peaking through the heather below, are the white flowering spires of creeping lady's-tresses (Goodyera repens) which as the name suggests spreads through creeping runners ending in rosettes of oval evergreen leaves. This species can also be found in Scots pine plantation in the North East.
Neil Hopkinson put his firewood processor on display. We've helped KCFC with a firewood feasibility study, and they are gearing up to supply a high quality low carbon fuel from the forest.
Having a go at greenwoodworking is always popular, and the Argyll Green Woodworkers Association stand was kept busy.
