Flora of Scotland
The 'Caledonian Forest' is a poetic name, from a Latin word meaning 'wooded heights' - it was formed at the end of the last ice age, around 10,000 years ago. The peak for Scotland's woodlands was about 5,000 years ago, when tree cover and diversity was at its greatest extent.
Woodlands covered a large area of the land and the forest was rich and diverse. It is likely that the the structure of the forest was very varied, and included a mosaic of denser woodland, open 'savannahs' and different kinds of scrub, as well as open heaths and bogs, which were an important part of the whole matrix. Among the many tree species were Scots pine, aspen, birch, oak, rowan, holly, rowan, willow, wild cherry and alder. There would have been a wide range of woodland types: pine woods, alder swamps, elm and ash woods, birchwoods and others which may have been completely lost. Each would have had unique communities of specialist wildlife. Open ground added to the diversity. A Grand Fir (first described by Scottish botanical explorer David Douglas in 1831 along the Columbia River) in Argyll is the tallest tree in the United Kingdom. The Fortingall Yew may be the oldest tree in Europe - Pontius Pilate is reputed to have been born in its shade and played there as a child. The Birnam Oak is a remnant of the Birnam Wood Shakespeare refers to in the play MacBeth.
Wildlife flourished. Lynx prowled the denser forest, packs of wolves hunted deer, giant wild cattle (aurochs) grazed open glades, while boar rooted through the leaf litter. Bears scooped salmon from the rivers, and elk grazed in the willow meadows created by the dams of beavers.
The Arran Whitebeams, Shetland Mouse-ear and Scottish Primrose are endemic flowering plants.
By the time the Romans arrived, over half of our native forests had been lost.
Now only around 2% of our native pinewoods remain, and key wildlife species (such as boar and wolf) have been lost, and continue to be endangered (such as the Scottish wildcat and pine marten).
Reforesting the Glens of Scotland has a vision to improve the Scottish ecology on a small scale by rewilding wilderness - planting Caledonian Native Trees (pine, aspen, birch, oak, rowan, holly, rowan, willow, wild cherry, hazel and alder)and wildflowers.
Inspiration for the project is John Muir: “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness”.
My tree planting efforts are now concentrated on Lauriston Farm in Edinburgh - 14,000 native deciduous trees planted so far.
The 'Caledonian Forest' is a poetic name, from a Latin word meaning 'wooded heights' - it was formed at the end of the last ice age, around 10,000 years ago. The peak for Scotland's woodlands was about 5,000 years ago, when tree cover and diversity was at its greatest extent.
Woodlands covered a large area of the land and the forest was rich and diverse. It is likely that the the structure of the forest was very varied, and included a mosaic of denser woodland, open 'savannahs' and different kinds of scrub, as well as open heaths and bogs, which were an important part of the whole matrix. Among the many tree species were Scots pine, aspen, birch, oak, rowan, holly, rowan, willow, wild cherry and alder. There would have been a wide range of woodland types: pine woods, alder swamps, elm and ash woods, birchwoods and others which may have been completely lost. Each would have had unique communities of specialist wildlife. Open ground added to the diversity. A Grand Fir (first described by Scottish botanical explorer David Douglas in 1831 along the Columbia River) in Argyll is the tallest tree in the United Kingdom. The Fortingall Yew may be the oldest tree in Europe - Pontius Pilate is reputed to have been born in its shade and played there as a child. The Birnam Oak is a remnant of the Birnam Wood Shakespeare refers to in the play MacBeth.
Wildlife flourished. Lynx prowled the denser forest, packs of wolves hunted deer, giant wild cattle (aurochs) grazed open glades, while boar rooted through the leaf litter. Bears scooped salmon from the rivers, and elk grazed in the willow meadows created by the dams of beavers.
The Arran Whitebeams, Shetland Mouse-ear and Scottish Primrose are endemic flowering plants.
By the time the Romans arrived, over half of our native forests had been lost.
Now only around 2% of our native pinewoods remain, and key wildlife species (such as boar and wolf) have been lost, and continue to be endangered (such as the Scottish wildcat and pine marten).
Reforesting the Glens of Scotland has a vision to improve the Scottish ecology on a small scale by rewilding wilderness - planting Caledonian Native Trees (pine, aspen, birch, oak, rowan, holly, rowan, willow, wild cherry, hazel and alder)and wildflowers.
Inspiration for the project is John Muir: “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness”.
My tree planting efforts are now concentrated on Lauriston Farm in Edinburgh - 14,000 native deciduous trees planted so far.