Trees for Life, a charity dedicated to rewilding Scotland’s Highlands, has saved an ancient pinewood located in Glen Loyne in the northwest Highlands. The pinewood is home to Scotland’s oldest wild Scots pine which is estimated to be 565-years-old.
The pinewood was at risk due to overgrazing by deer, meaning the area was unable to naturally regenerate. With the help of the landowner, Trees for Life has erected a new deer-proof ‘exclosure’ of fencing to protect the woodland, including the most ancient pines, and to allow young seedlings to grow.
“Glen Loyne’s wild pines and other Caledonian pinewoods are globally unique, and a special part of Scotland’s character and culture,” said James Rainey, senior ecologist at Trees for Life. “Saving and restoring them offers a major opportunity for tackling the nature and climate crises.”
The Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project, a four-year survey of the health of Scotland’s pinewoods, led to the discovery that some of the oldest pines were outside an area of fencing which had been erected in the 1990s to protect them. Trees for Life then erected 1.5 kilometres of new fencing and connected up, extended and repaired existing sections.
Glen Loyne was historically part of the royal hunting grounds of Cluanie and would have been home to capercaillie, wildcat, and lynx. Records from 1874 show a more extensive woodland in the glen, however by the 1990s there were only 85 ancient pines left.
The nature recovery project has been funded by the family of Harry Steven, author of The Native Pinewoods of Scotland, which recognised the special status of the pinewoods and documented 35 wild pine populations that had survived centuries of deforestation.
The Caledonian forest once covered much of the Highlands, however today less than 2% survives. Trees for Life is dedicated to restoring the Caledonian forest and other areas of the Highlands through its Affric Highlands rewilding initiative.
Trees for Life have saved an ancient pinewood located in Glen Loyne, in Scotland’s northwest Highlands, from being lost forever. The pinewood is home to Scotland’s oldest wild Scots pine, estimated to be 565-years-old, and contains 57 pines which are all several centuries old.
The pinewood was at risk due to overgrazing by deer, preventing it from naturally regenerating. Trees for Life, in cooperation with the landowner, have erected a new deer-proof ‘exclosure’ of fencing to protect the woodland and allow young seedlings to grow.
“Glen Loyne’s wild pines and other Caledonian pinewoods are globally unique, and a special part of Scotland’s character and culture,” said James Rainey, senior ecologist at Trees for Life. “Saving and restoring them offers a major opportunity for tackling the nature and climate crises.”
The nature recovery project has been funded by the family of Harry Steven, author of The Native Pinewoods of Scotland, which recognised the special status of the pinewoods and documented 35 wild pine populations that had survived centuries of deforestation.
Trees for Life are dedicated to restoring the Caledonian forest and other areas of the Highlands through its Affric Highlands rewilding initiative. The initiative will restore woodland, peatland and riverside habitats over half a million acres from Loch Ness to the west coast, supporting re-peopling and nature-based economic opportunities.
Today, Trees for Life have saved an ancient pinewood located in Glen Loyne, in Scotland’s northwest Highlands, from being lost forever. The pinewood is home to Scotland’s oldest wild Scots pine, estimated to be 565-years-old, and contains 57 pines which are all several centuries old.
The pinewood was at risk due to overgrazing by deer, preventing it from naturally regenerating. Trees for Life, in cooperation with the landowner, have erected a new deer-proof ‘exclosure’ of fencing to protect the woodland and allow young seedlings to grow.
“Glen Loyne’s wild pines and other Caledonian pinewoods are globally unique, and a special part of Scotland’s character and culture,” said James Rainey, Senior Ecologist at Trees for Life. “Saving and restoring them offers a major opportunity for tackling the nature and climate crises.”
Funded by the family of Harry Steven, the author of The Native Pinewoods of Scotland, Trees for Life are dedicated to restoring the Caledonian forest and other areas of the
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