A MOUNTAINOUS forest is to be planted in the Highlands by Trees for Life next spring to support wildlife including golden eagles and mountain hares.
The site at Beinn Bhan, on the charity’s Dundreggan Conservation Estate in Glenmoriston, is more than 500m above sea level.
The trees will be waist-high, forming a habitat called montane scrub which has almost disappeared from Scotland due to sheep grazing and high numbers of deer. Climbers have been enlisted to retrieve seeds from mountainous trees found on difficult terrain which will increase the new forest’s genetic diversity.
Steve Micklewright of Trees for Life’s said: “This exciting initiative will address the sad loss of these special wee trees.”
Efforts have been made over the past ten years to conserve the woolly willow shrub in Scotland, according to Scottish National Heritage.
Only four of its 13 locations had more than 100 plants left ten years ago, which was increased to five through the Species Action Framework programme.
Trees for Life has already begun growing seeds it has collected from Glen Affric before planting begins on Beinn Bhan in the spring.
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