The
SEMI-NATURAL NATIVE PINEWOODS
dominant tree in semi- natural native pinewoods is of course a Pine tree, Scots Pine to be precise. The woods are also home to many sub-species such as Birch, Juniper, Oaks, Rowan and Aspen. All of these trees thrive in shallow drained mineral soils, but they produce a fantastic range of flora. Most upland areas of the these pinewoods have a heather flora with plenty fern and peaty soils however lowlands have plush under growth of Blaeberry, Creepy ladies tresses, Lesser twayblade, Twin flower and Glittering wood moss. Located in the North and East of Scotland, in the foothills of the Cairngorms and Glen Affric as remnants of the “Caledonian Forest� (fig 1). A forest which consisted of 1.5 million hectares, 6000 years ago. [1.Woodlands of Britain, pdf, 20/09/2014] [2. Trees of Life 20/09/2014] CALEDONIAN FOREST This vast forest. (the shaded section of the picture on the right, Fig1). Started to decline over the last 4000 years due to unknown circumstances and continued to
decline
as
humans
got
involved.
Red
deer
populations grew out of control and farmers let their sheep graze. In the past 400 years these woodlands were also exploited by a clear felling system for its timber however regeneration was required to rebuild the
forests
for
conservation
and
more
timber
production. The dark black sections are all that remain. (fig1)
Woodlands of Cairngorms National Park, Scotland consist of 36,274 hectares of seminatural and 4,651 hectares of mixed and planted species of tree. In 1988 this was 11% of the National Park. The Scots Pine is spread widely over the low foothills in a thick blanket of green. Intertwined is semi-natural woodland of Juniper, Douglas fir, Rowan and Oak. These trees generally grow well under the cover of pine and survive off the water and nutrients that the flora provides. [ 3. The Forests of Cairngorms 20/09/2014] The Semi-Natural woodlands of Glen Affric now cover approximately 17000 hectares and host to the Aspen tree which grows on non- fertile soils and rocky ground. The ground flora is mainly heather, ferns, nettles and spikey brambles but still dominated by the pines and confers. However this is increasing as Glen Affric is also a National Park that has been carefully managed to maintain the character and history. Conservation has played an important role in keeping these woodlands safe from degradation by installing deer fencing and management of public intervention. Comparisons to ancient semi-natural woodlands help create the right foundation of
management as well as implementing specific rules for individual sites and the need for timber. [2. Trees of Life 20/09/2014] Referencing: [Fig 1, Caledonian Partnership- www.caledonian-partnership.org.uk/caledonian [1. Woodlands of Britain, pdf, Neil Cleland, SSF UHI, Baloch, 20/09/2014] [2. Trees of Life, www.tresoflife.org.uk/tfl.Scpine 20/09/2014] [3. The Forests of Cairngorms, Cairngorm National Park Authority, cairngorms.co.uk, 20/09/2014]