Lindsay Bourque is again responsible for today's written entry. Lindsay writes:
Thank you to Stephen Buchan@Flickr for supplying today's photograph (original image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool) and the following summary of the plant community in the image:
"Tall, straight Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forming an open canopy with birch (Betula sp.). The luxuriant ground flora includes bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), blaeberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and heather (Calluna vulgaris), not to mention abundant mosses and lichens."
Abernethy Forest is located on the southern fringe of the Spey Valley to the north of the Cairngorms in the eastern highlands of Scotland. It is a remnant of the ancient Caledonian Forest, which constituted the westernmost outpost of the boreal forest in Europe. Believed to have formed at the end of the last ice age, the Caledonian Forest is estimated to have covered 15,000 square kilometers. Today, approximately 1% remains spread throughout a handful of isolated locations.
However, the forest is being extended southwards by both natural regeneration and restorative reforestation, a growing movement in Scotland. During my time as a tree planter in British Columbia, I remember when tree planting in Scotland would become a hot topic in planting camps; many planters set out overseas to reforest the rolling hills of Scotland.
Botany resource link (added by Daniel): Eva Johansson, of West Kootenay Plants, sent along the following link to my attention, and I think it's very worthwhile of sharing: Fritillaria imperialis (aka imperial crown) via Poemas del río Wang.
thank you daniel i have been clicking
the links and have been to the forest
wild life of scotland and trees for life
the viedos are really interesting
i found a website yesterday while looking
for the wood splurge microscopy.uk.org.uk
brian johnston canada awesome site
and the writeing is so good
thank you for all you have taught me
and to all the commenters
Beautiful photo, and most interesting text.
Been there, absolutely delightful place!
Thank you for the excellent photograph.
Lovely stuff about the forest.
Thanks also for the link to the Crown Fritillaria photos -- gorgeous photos, and very interesting website.
wow! that looks almost majical
Thank you for the wonderful photo of the Scottish highlands. It brings back memories of a long walk up a glen (Luis?), accompanied by an energetic Scottish lass and her dog. She pointed out the ancient forest behind us as I caught my breath amongst the moss and ferns beside a brook. I have photos similar to this...Cairgorm hills was the view in the distance. I wish to return when the heather blooms.
Extraordinary link to the wild Fritillaria --what photos of the mountains of Iran and the music to play alongside--magic. Thank you for making special moments in my day.
The deforestation of Britain is an interesting thing. It occurred so long ago that it is hard to imagine what it would have been like, apart from Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest! Years ago I stayed near the Malvern Hills and I was told that they keep the tops bare so that they keep their characteristic look!
The scenery is almost perfectly as in places here in Finland! Save that we do not have the bracken taxon shown in the foreground: it represents Pteridium aquilinum ssp. aquilinum while we have P. aquilinum ssp. pinetorum (also present in Scotland!) and the apparent hybrid, or nothosubspecies, between these subspecies.
Very beautiful -- and not all that far from me in Aberdeen. Thank you!
Really wonderful and heartening that a boreal forest could be regenerated.
Thanks Lindsay. Keep 'em coming!
Is that the area with the Wild cats?
....i had the sudden urge to plant a tree..!!