CaledoniaCaledonia

Welcome to a World of Wonder! ne day in early May I went to Dundreggan, just symbol for our whole fundraising drive. after we heard that our formal offer had been Seeing the butterfly in real life again then, at the very Oaccepted, and that we therefore had a binding moment of entering the forest on Dundreggan for the first contract for the purchase of the estate. It felt like an time since our purchase was confirmed, I knew it was no auspicious day, and I was eager to see the birchwood with coincidence. It seemed to me that the peacock was the fresh green leaves of spring, and to experience the re- welcoming me, and Trees for Life, to the forest we will emergence of life on the land, after the long dormancy of care for and regenerate. It was as though the butterfly was winter. saying, 'see, I did help you purchase I spent some time talking with the estate!'. What a welcome to Allan Common, who lives in the Two weeks later, I was out on Dundreggan - the Keeper's Cottage and works on the Dundreggan again, this time with peacock butterfly I saw Estate, and then walked up the track Mandeigh, our marketing manager, in early May! towards the birchwood behind the whose idea it had been to feature the buildings, heading for some peacock butterfly so prominently on primroses I could see blooming in our brochure. By then, spring was profusion at the edge of the trees. It more advanced, and it felt like we was a bright sunny day, the air was were discovering a whole world of warm and the sounds of birds and the beauty. Many of the junipers were Peacock butterfly on gentle breeze filled the air. Taking in covered with a spectacular orange the cover of our the beauty of the primroses, I sat rust fungus; Allan Common took us to Dundreggan brochure down to have my lunch in the sun at an aspen stand, where we saw a great the threshold of the woodland. spotted woodpecker emerge from its After a few minutes my nest hole in one of the trees; and attention was caught by movement at Mandeigh caught sight the periphery of my vision. As I turned to get a closer of a slow worm in the grass. A look, I saw a butterfly land on one of the primroses. hillside near Dundreggan Lodge Carefully moving closer, I saw that it was a peacock was covered with primroses, and butterfly, and my heart and spirits soared as the another week later the peacocks significance of this sank in. I had seen a peacock butterfly were still feeding on them. I couldn't on Dundreggan once late last summer, and as a result we help but smile as they fluttered around, had included a photograph of one on the special and their presence seemed to say to me, fundraising brochure we produced for the estate. In fact, 'Welcome to the world of wonder that is the butterfly featured in apparent giant size on the cover Dundreggan' - a welcome that we extend photograph, and again on the donation form inside, next to you in the centre pages of this newsletter. to the words 'Yes, I want to help Trees for Life purchase the Dundreggan Estate!' Through this, it became the Alan Watson Featherstone In this Summer 06 issue: Juniper propagation success . Dundreggan Biodiversity Otter folklore . The History of Dundreggan . Predation . Black slug species profile In the Pressure Cooker! By Adam Powell here is lots on at Trees for Life at the moment. It's exposed hillside facing the prospect of carrying a shoulder summer and, in keeping with the pace of life in bag of damp, heavy fertiliser. You would have returned Tnature, it is a hot and hectic season for us with the repeatedly to refill it, setting out time and again to dose promise of a huge potential increase in woodland another batch of little trees. There was no visible result. restoration in the Scottish Highlands via our taking Raising a weary head from the ground at lunch time your ownership of the 4,000 hectare (10,000 acre) Dundreggan eyes would scan the site which looked exactly as before; no Estate in Glen Moriston. satisfying pile of old fencing removed, no native trees Struggling to fit yet another item into a busy schedule, liberated from the oppression of suffocating Sitka spruce, Spotted flycatcher, I recently came up with what I thought was a brilliant idea. no swathes of newly planted trees to feel proud of. juvenile and adult I had to get someone Take heart all you brave and dedicated volunteers! started on a woodland Just look at the result of all your hard work. Sometimes one survey at Dundreggan has to wait to experience job satisfaction but it has certainly and I really had to get on with arrived now in this situation. Using fertiliser is not our writing this article. Pulling a preferred option but rock phosphate is relatively low-key memory from the distant past with no heavy duty chemicals. The slow growth and die- I realised that I did not need a back in the trees over a period of years on this poor and computer and keyboard but exposed site, particularly the birch, had to be addressed. could actually use pen and paper to The rock phosphate has certainly improved the situation make a start on this task and that could be and even the trees at the highest most exposed point of the accomplished anywhere. Excellent! I would show site are now looking healthy. In more sheltered spots, Nicholas the maps and notes for the survey, discuss aspen, birch, pine and rowan have become well methodology and leave him to it. Meanwhile I would find established, some having grown over two metres tall! So a nice spot to plonk myself down and put pen to paper. “By well done and thank you all who took part in this difficult the way,” said Nicholas, “Jill (our tree nursery manager) task: all your hard work has paid off and the Balnacarn would like you to check out how the willow seed is project is now looking great. developing on the trees here, and wants to know if it would Some of the birches be worth her while popping over to collect some.” planted on Balnacarn Right, I thought, I will just nip down to the river and are now 2 metres tall. check out the willows before settling down to write the PHOTO BY ADAM POWELL. article. An hour and a half later, after watching the dazzling dance of damselflies, the smart elegance of the black caps and white collars of reed buntings, dogging the erratic flight courses of a green-veined white butterfly, silver 'y' and common wave moths, noting the presence of early purple orchid, meadowsweet and angelica in the damp Green-veined white grassland of the flood plain, I got back eager to note down butterfly on meadowsweet my observations before they left my head … oh, and there's a spotted flycatcher sitting on that roof and surely those are sand martins flashing past their cousins, the house martins! Who can sit down with eyes glued to a page with all this going on? After a quick lunch I went with the flow and trekked across the woodland margin picking up further observations which would add 39 species to the ever expanding biodiversity record for Dundreggan.

Rock on! Woodland ground flora One of the most difficult, and at the time In the dappled sunshine of Millbuies Forest, a Forestry thankless, tasks that we have undertaken with Commission Scots pine plantation on the Black Isle near groups of volunteers was the spreading of rock Inverness, there are a number of deer-fenced plots which phosphate fertiliser around young trees on the were established in 1987 to trial woodland ground flora Balnacarn Estate in Glen Moriston. If you were one of reintroduction. This was of interest to us as we have the lucky (?) few to experience this ordeal I am sure initiated just such a project in recovering woodland in Glen you will remember it! After a bumpy ride in a Land Affric. More often than not in new woodland, whether Rover and a steep walk you would have stood on an planted or naturally regenerating, many of the ground flora

2 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 species have disappeared in feels it is an excellent plan and I recently made a site visit Natural woodland the absence of the cool, with him to investigate the possible extent of the project ground flora in the damp shade of the tree and practical fence lines. There is very limited commercial Caledonian Forest - canopy. Some hang on in value in the plantations and there are places, particularly on creeping ladies tresses orchids amongst the shade provided by tall the edges, where trees have done very poorly. John went a blaeberries at Coille heather or rocks or in the little further than I had suggested in taking some of the Ruigh in Glen Affric. shadowed confines of river plantation area into the proposed scheme on the basis of gorges but competition landscape design and practicalities. Due to the planned from advancing moorland introduction of a new Forestry Commission grant scheme species, in concert with for new woodlands, no money will be available for some increased light, will see off time to come. However, we both felt that this is too good an the majority of species. opportunity to miss and we will continue to hold the vision The ability of plants to for when funds become available. The new office at our field recolonise is directly base at Plodda Lodge. related to their seed The domino effect PHOTO BY ADAM POWELL. dispersal mechanism: very Neil and Jill, Field Base Warden and fine windblown seeds, Tree Nursery Manager, who live at berries eaten by birds or burrs capable of sticking to an Plodda Lodge with their two year old animal's fur make some species very mobile and well daughter, Iona, had been finding it adapted to bridging a gap to reach a new situation. On the increasingly impractical to share other hand, some plants like bluebell and primrose tend to household facilities with the expand their range very slowly, their seeds only travelling demands of volunteer groups. a short distance from the parent plant, and others, like cow Solution? 1. Make their bed sitting wheat depend upon other woodland species, in this case room into a ktichen living room; 2. wood ants, to carry their seeds. Yet others, such as Make the upstairs office into their twinflower, have evolved to rely more on vegetative bedroom; 3. Move the office to the development to spread into wide mats and rarely produce workshop/tool store, with necessary seed at all. plasterboarding, flooring etc; and 4. The Forestry Commission trial focussed mainly on Get a shed and set the workshop up three key species of native pine woodland - blaeberry, there. This process is now complete cowberry and crowberry - and later attempts with juniper and should provide the family with and creeping lady's tresses orchid. The most successful some much needed privacy and the establishment was undoubtedly blaeberry, with the freedom to use their kitchen as and evergreen cowberry coming in second. Monitoring records when they need to. for the project were a bit patchy but it would seem that in earlier years crowberry was doing very well. When I was New planting there in May this year this species had become inundated This spring saw the start of new planting in Glen Cannich, with moss as the plantation trees which had been thinned at which runs parallel and to the north of Glen Affric. The the start of the trial had closed in again, shading the site Forestry Commission land on the south side at the east of excessively. Only a couple of junipers had survived, the glen, which now forms the northern edge of the Glen probably for the same reason: too low light levels. Affric National Nature Reserve (NNR), was once clothed Interestingly, the planted creeping lady's tresses had not in Caledonian pine woodland. The western remnant of this survived at all, but a natural population has established forest is still to be seen on the south shore of Loch itself throughout the wood, not just inside the fences. Mulardoch but a large area was lost to an accidental fire in So, it must be said that the experiment has been a the early 1950's. Dense plantations of non-native timber A volunteer planting a success in re-establishing the three berry species. The most trees replaced the pinewoods but they in turn have almost tree in Glen Affric - obvious result of this trial is that woodland plants are very all gone as we turn full circle to restore the area to native please join us next sensitive to changes in light levels and species distribution woodland again. This is part of the plan to reinstate native year for our most will be determined on this basis, as illustrated by the woodland within the NNR and 9 kilometres of the ridge ambitious planting changing fortunes of the crowberry. This provides us with between the two glens has been perimeter-fenced and deer season to date! useful information to guide our actions and species choices numbers reduced to allow for natural regeneration of trees. in the Glen Affric woodland ground flora project. The planting of 1,000 alder trees, raised at the Trees for Life nursery, started the ball rolling on a major new Attadale update proposal to establish up to 750 hectares of new woodland It is two years now since we proposed a woodland within the NNR. Planting will speed up the process of restoration project on the Attadale Estate which rises from reforestation there, which would otherwise take many the shores of Loch Carron to a wild and mountainous years, as the numbers and species diversity of native trees landscape, in the west of our Target Area for forest has been severely reduced. Next year will see plans off to a restoration. The estate has undertaken a number of natural proper start with the planting of up to 200,000 Scots pine, regeneration projects and the idea we have come up with is with Trees for Life playing a major part in the process. to establish another area between non-native plantations Watch out for next year's Volunteer Work Week which would tie the previous projects together. The agent, brochure to secure a place to be part of this exciting John McKay, who supervises these things on the property planting plan!

Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 3 Allan Common beside the birch-juniper By Allan Common woodland on Dundreggan As part of our purchase of Dundreggan, we are also taking farm purchased Dundreggan Hill Ground from over the employment of Allan Common, who has worked Glenmoriston Estate and also the new Lodge house when it there for many years. We're delighted to welcome him, and came up for sale. Dundreggan Land was then set up as a his knowledge and passion for Dundreggan, to our staff company in Liechtenstein. The owner enjoyed his sporting team, and here he relates some of the history of the Estate pursuits at Dundreggan until 1991, when he sold the estate and his involvement with it. to the Amos family, also from Italy. They changed the undreggan was once part of the vast Glenmoriston company name to Dundreggan Estate Ltd., but it was still Estate, which was owned by many generations of registered in Liechtenstein. Dthe Grant family, and since the mid 1800's was run In the mid 1990's the upper Dalchreichart Hill Ground as a traditional sporting estate. The main attraction at was acquired, and in 2001 the Dalchreichart Plantation was Dundreggan was the old Dundreggan Lodge. It was an purchased, thus bringing together an area of approximately impressive structure; typical of its time, complete with 23 10,000 acres. It is this expanse of land that we know today bedrooms, 3 public rooms and adjoining stables. It had all as Dundreggan Estate. the usual refinements, including a country garden growing I started my love affair with this beautiful Glen in 1967 fruit, vegetables and herbs. It even had a large croquet as a small boy of about 5 years old. Being born and brought lawn, part of which is still visible today. up in the industrialised town of Grangemouth, I longed for The original the hills and open spaces. My chance came when my Dundreggan Lodge, grandparents searched for a retirement cottage in the photographed in about Highlands. They settled in the old Keeper's Cottage at 1912. Dalchreichart, which is a couple of miles from Dundreggan. I spent all my summer holidays as a boy in Glenmoriston and my first encounter with Dundreggan was at the age of 10 when helping the local contractor deliver hay to Mr Campbell. I was met at his door by a goat, while casually perched on the kitchen table, was the biggest hen I'd ever seen! I lived in Grangemouth until age 21 and completed my Shortly after returning from action in the Second apprenticeship as a Mechanical Forestry Engineer. I then World War, a local man, Donnie Campbell, took over the moved on to the maintenance of heavy earth-moving farm tenancy of Dundreggan Lower Ground from his machinery. Still visiting the glen during holidays, the parents who stayed in Dundreggan Cottage. A short while opportunity of a job working on Dundreggan came up. I later Donnie and his wife Alma had the opportunity to buy jumped at the chance and I moved here in 1983. I worked the farm at Dundreggan, which included The Old Lodge, for the first Italian owner, mainly looking after sheep, but whilst Glenmoriston Estate retained ownership of the hill due to a change in business direction after 4 years, my job ground. By this time (the late 1960's) Dundreggan Lodge became uncertain and I left. I started up my own business as had fallen in to such a state of disrepair that it had to be a Fencing Contractor doing contracts for the Forestry demolished. Donnie & Alma built the present keeper's Commission and local Estates. In 1998 I was asked if I house on the site of the old Lodge and Donnie's sister Alice wanted a job back at Dundreggan, this time for the new continued to live in the cottage. In 1969, Donnie and Alma owners, the Amos Family. I again jumped at the chance and sold a small corner of a field on the west side of the original have been here ever since. lodge to a family from Aberdeenshire, who built a house Now that Trees for Life have purchased Dundreggan, there. It is this house that we now refer to as Dundreggan a new chapter is beginning. This is an exciting time for me Lodge. as I will be able to utilise my skills and knowledge of the Mr & Mrs Campbell worked the farm until the late area in a way that was restricted in the past, and play a 1970's when Donnie sold it, because of ill health. Over the greater role in managing this beautiful part of the glen that next few years the Italian businessman who had bought the is so dear to my heart.

4 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 The Forest

FrontlineBy Ian Bailey pring is a relative state of affairs in the Highlands and got married in Edinburgh on Friday 21st April, then caught the weather tends to ignore the calendar. Just as the the train north to join the Glen Moriston work week which Snights were drawing out and the work weeks were started the following day! Trees for Life's hosts at the drawing near, a huge dump of snow plunged us back into Invermoriston Holiday Chalets, Clare and Errol Levings, winter. Undeterred, two groups of volunteers set out on greeted the happy couple with a bottle of bubbly and 25th March to begin the 2006 season, the first of the provided them with their own bedroom complete with the seventeen weeks which ran through until June. It wasn't so luxury of a double duvet - so no need to zip their sleeping much a spring season as a winter into summer epic, bags together! Not only did Chris and Shona give encompassing everything from biting winds to biting generously of their time, they also asked their friends and midges. But spring is of course a time of hope (that the family to make donations towards a grove of trees to be weather gets better) and rebirth (of feeling in one's planted in celebration of their wedding, rather than have a extremities). more conventional department store gift list. They made a As Trees for Life edged nearer to acquiring heartfelt plea in asking for donations: “The human race has Dundreggan, our thoughts were on growing the trees that done too much damage collectively, and unless we all act will be planted there to restore the forest. The Glen together now there will be little left for future generations Moriston volunteers were well placed to collect seed and to enjoy.” The £950 gifted to them means we can plant 188 cuttings from the local area. In Forestry Commission trees in their name. When Chris, Shona and their fellow Scotland's Inverwick forest they gathered Scots pine cones volunteers made a start on their planting at the RSPB's by the sack. The cones ripen in late spring, when the scales Corrimony Reserve, Mandeigh Wells and I couldn't resist open to release the seed, a process that the growers will dusting off the champagne flutes for another celebration. mimic in a warm, dry cabinet to harvest the seed. As Shona enthused, “This was the best honeymoon I've Thousands of pine seedlings should be on their way by the ever had!” Many congratulations to Chris and Shona - all summer. Along the River Moriston, the volunteers of us at Trees for Life wish them every happiness. collected many willow branches - eared, grey and goat - Honeymoon week volunteer group at Corrimony in April. which have been converted into 5,000 cuttings growing at Back row, left to right: Dan Puplett, David Wilson, Gordon McRuvie, Dan Tomes our nursery at Plodda and at Inverness Trees. We also (RSPB site manager) and David Jones. collected aspen root cuttings, and volunteers on the Gentle Middle row: Ian Bailey, Isobel Wilson and Yue Ting Cheng. Week helped with processing these and the willow In front: Shona McGlashan and Chris Scatchard. cuttings. All this work is a great investment in the future of PHOTO BY MANDEIGH WELLS. the forest at Dundreggan. Our Glen Moriston work weeks continued to shorten that very long redundant deer fence and to check the regeneration of non-native trees in the many areas of former plantation. Our work weeks at the RSPB's Corrimony Reserve planted 16,650 trees and the volunteers visited the black grouse lek, even if they didn't really enjoy getting up very early for the best view of the birds. There was plenty of planting, too, on the Glen Affric weeks staying at Athnamulloch. These ran to the beginning of June, including the mini heatwave of early May, that will probably prove to have been this year's summer. What better way to cool off after a day planting a thousand alder in Gleann na Ciche than a quick dip in a pool on the river? Not a thought that would have crossed the minds of the shivering volunteers back on wintry 25th March! Many thanks to our volunteers this spring and, as ever, for the inspiring work of the work week focalisers. Thinking of the future, two of our volunteers have made a huge commitment to their future together. Every work week is a unique experience for the volunteers and focalisers. However, Chris Scatchard and Shona McGlashan scored a first by coming on a work week as their honeymoon. Long-time sweethearts Chris and Shona

Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 5 Nursery News By Jill Hodge

Seedlings Galore! Spring has got to be the most exciting time for many people ● All the nursery beds have been weeded, had compost working in the world of horticulture and for me, the dug in, been replanted and mulched. germination of seeds is still 'the best bit of the job' - and it's all the more amazing if you have been waiting several ● Many willow cuttings were prepared and planted. years for those seeds to come up! So I am delighted to report that there have been lots of excitement in the nursery ● Seeds, such as rowan, alder and hazel have been sown. A volunteer preparing this spring, such as the germination of dog rose seeds juniper seeds for which were collected in 2003, bluebell seeds (collected in ● Seedlings have been pricked out. stratification, with a 2004), holly seeds (collected in 2003), rowan seeds tray of this year's new juniper seedlings in (collected in 2005), alder seeds (collected in 2005), and ● Aspen root cuttings were planted in boxes in the poly the foreground. particularly fantastic is the germination of about 800 tunnel. PHOTO BY JILL HODGE. juniper seeds, as this is the first time we have had more than a half a dozen juniper ● Many young aspen trees have been potted up. germinating from seed in the nursery. The juniper Many other tasks have also been carried out, and as a result berries were collected the nursery is now full (to bursting point!) of young trees. I from bushes in Glen hope that some of the volunteers who've helped on the Affric and Glen Moriston nursery will be back to plant them out in the glens at some in 2003 and have been point in the future! stratified (i.e. stored outside to lose their Aspen Suckers dormancy) for three Just now, during summer, work focuses on our aspen winters, before they all propagation project, as the root cuttings we have collected germinated at exactly the since January and planted in the poly tunnel are now same time this spring! sending up masses of shoots (called suckers), each of The seedlings are which is cut and rooted as an individual young tree in our currently looking healthy, but growing slowly, and it is mist propagation unit. This year we are particularly likely that they will be in the nursery for several more concentrating on aspen of Glen Moriston provenance years, before they are large enough to be planted out in the which will, in the future, be planted out on our land at glens. Dundreggan to help re-establish the forest there.

Digging in the Snow! This year work really got underway on the nursery in late February when a work party came to dig up all the bare- root trees from the nursery beds. Unfortunately, however, after all the relatively mild winter weather, we had chosen the one week when temperatures plummeted to minus nine degrees Celsius and several inches of snow fell! The insulating properties of the snow and the layer of mulch on top of the beds were greater than I ever imagined, however, so despite the cold temperatures at night, the soil beneath the mulch remained unfrozen and a particularly hardy group of volunteers helped me to dig the alder and willow trees from the beds and grade, dip and bag them up, ready for storage before planting out in Glen Affric later in the spring. Now, as I write, in the middle of June when we have just had a fortnight of hot, dry weather and the midges are out in full force whenever the wind drops, that week at the A volunteer pricking end of February seems a whole world away, especially as out dog rose seedlings just so much has happened and so much work has been during May. achieved mainly thanks to all the volunteers who have PHOTO BY JILL HODGE. helped on the nursery during April and May:

6 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 Mythology and Folklore of the Otter By Dan Puplett

leek, lithe and playful, at home on land and in the demanded compensation from the gods who gave them the water, the otter is a well-loved member of the otter skin filled with gold. In ancient Persia the otter (again SCaledonian Forest fauna. A Scottish name for the known as the 'water dog'), was esteemed above all other otter is the 'dratsie', and in Scottish tradition there are tales animals, and a severe penalty was imposed on anyone who of 'Otter Kings' who were accompanied by seven black killed one. otters. When captured, these beasts would grant any wish in This popular mammal also features in more recent exchange for their freedom. But their skins were also literature. Otter in Kenneth Graham's Wind in the Willows prized for their ability to render a warrior invincible, and is an affable character, with a particularly adventurous son. were thought to provide protection against drowning. The moving tale of Tarka the Luckily, the Otter Kings were hard to Otter by Henry Williamson kill, their only vulnerable point follows the life of an otter being a small point below in the rivers of North their chin. Devon, and Gavin Otters sometimes Maxwell's Ring of swim single file as a Bright Water recounts family group, and it has the touching, funny been suggested that this and tragic true story might account for some of his friendship of the Loch Ness with otters, giving a Monster sightings! In a lyrical portrayal of similar vein, an old their intelligence and Anglo-Saxon name for irrepressible playfulness. the otter was the 'water- Human admiration for this snake'. animal is perhaps best expressed The otter features in an in the words of the American ancient shamanic Welsh tale. The naturalist, Ernest Thompson sorceress Ceridwen left young Seton: “...the joyful, keen and Gwion to guard her cauldron, but he fearless otter; mild and loving to his tasted the draught by accident and gained own kind, and gentle with his neighbour of knowledge of all things. He transformed into a the stream; full of play and gladness in his life, full of hare to escape her wrath, but she pursued him as a hound. courage in his stress; ideal in his home, steadfast in death; When he plunged into the river as a salmon, Ceridwen the noblest little soul that ever went four-footed through became an otter to continue her pursuit. Gwion was the woods.” eventually reborn as the great bard, Taliesin. In Celtic and other folklore the otter is often characterised as a friendly and helpful creature, and is given the name 'water dog', alluding to these qualities. In the Irish story The Voyage of Maelduin, otters on the Island of Otter bring the sailors salmon to eat, and the Voyage of Brendan tells of how an otter performed this service for a hermit, even collecting firewood for him! St. Cuthbert is the patron saint of otters, and after standing waist-deep in the North Sea during his nightly prayer vigils, two otters would come and warm his feet with their breath and dry them with their fur. Bizarrely, there was debate among Celtic clerics as to whether otter flesh was fish or meat, determining whether of not it could be eaten at Lent; and the Carthusian monks of Dijon, who were forbidden to eat meat, ate otter as they classed it as a fish!

In Norse mythology, the mischievous god Loki killed the dwarf Otr while the latter was in the form of an otter. The dwarves were furious, and

Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 7 Biodiversity on DUNDREGGAN By Alan Watson Featherstone

uch of our initial work on Dundreggan will consist of surveys, to document and record the range of species and habitat types on the Mestate, and we're getting these under way this summer. The surveys will provide the baseline data which we require for preparing a comprehensive Management Plan for the conservation and restoration of native woodland and other ecosystems on the estate. Thanks to a generous grant offer from the Partnership for Rural Inverness and Nairn (PRIN), we've contracted David Barbour to carry out a survey of moths and butterflies there (he did this for us in Glen Affric in 2003). Jane Bowman, who lives further up Glen Moriston, is helping with this, and they have already discovered two moths which are priority species in the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan scheme, thereby adding to the conservation importance of the estate. Asurvey of the vegetation communiites there will get under way In July and August, and this will also include further mapping of the distribution of dwarf birch (Betula nana) there. Meanwhile, Trees for Life staff, especially Adam and myself, are building up a list of species observed on the estate, to provide an indication of the biological diversity currently present on Dundreggan. One important discovery we've made already is finding a Nationally Scarce pinhead lichen (Phaeocalicium praecedens) there. This tiny lichen, about 1 mm. in size, grows on the twigs of mature aspen trees, and is known from only a few sites in the whole country (we also found it in Glen Affric in 2004). Meanwhile, the Male great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) at its nest in an aspen tree. Rust fungus (Gymnosporangium clavariforme) on the stem of photographs here illustrate some of the biodiversity we’ve already documented a large juniper. This species has a complex, two stage life- on Dundreggan. Funds still needed for Dundreggan Lodge cycle, and in the other part it grows on hawthorn (Crataegus Part of our funding for the purchase of Dundreggan is being provided by one of our monogyna), where it induces the tree to produce galls. supporters, who is buying Dundreggan Lodge, to enable us to complete the purchase of the entire estate. He is doing this to support us, and needs to get his money back in a year's time, through selling the Lodge, and we'd like to buy it from him. We envision using the Lodge as accommodation for volunteer groups, both on Dundreggan and elsewhere in Glen Moriston, and we need to raise about £220,000 for this within the next 12 months. If you are inspired to help us with this in any way, please contact our office - we'd love to hear from you! Major grant approved by the Tubney Trust! Our focus on the biological diversity of Dundreggan received a huge boost in late Primroses flowering in profusion on a hillside near Green hairstreak butterfly May, when we were informed by the Tubney Charitable Trust that they had approved Swamp candles or bog beacon fungi (Mitrula paludosa) Dundreggan Lodge. (Callophrys rubi) on a bluebell our grant application to them for up to £365,000 towards the purchase of the estate. fruit in the spring and typically grow in wet locations, (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). This Trust has a particular emphasis on the protection and restoration of wild land for such as this pool on Dundreggan. the purpose of protecting and restoring White ermine moth (Spilosoma lubricipeda). biodiversity, and this is the largest grant we have ever received. It provides all the funding we require to complete Phase 2 of the purchase of Dundreggan, and this means that we now have the finances in place to purchase the entire 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) all at the same time. The approval of this grant is a wonderful affirmation of our work, and we're very grateful to the Tubney Charitable Trust Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus). for this tremendous support. This rare moth is classified as Nationally Scarce, and is a Priority Species in the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan. Our discovery of it on Dundreggan is significant as it is Chickweed wintergreen the first record for this species in the 10 km. grid square Longhorn beetle (Trientalis europaea) in flower. which the estate is covered by. (Rhagium bifasciatum).

8 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 9 Ecological Features of the Caledonian Forest Predation By Dan Puplett

o feed on another living thing is to be a predator, to instance. In partake in predation. Even herbivores are common Tpredators of sorts, although by predators we with the other usually mean those animals that kill and consume animal true hawks, prey relatively quickly. These are the true predators, and this awesome often dwell at, or near, the top of the food chain. bird of prey has The food chain in the forest begins with the sun's relatively energy, arriving fresh from its 93,000,000 mile, compact wings. European goshawk eight minute journey across the Solar System. It is a woodland (Accipiter gentilis) Most plants use photosynthesis to convert this solar hunter, and this special in flight. energy to sugars, adaptation gives it PHOTO BY PETER CAIRNS. while extracting astonishing nutrients and manoeuvrability as water from the it speeds through even soil, and fairly dense thickets after a carbon dioxide bird or squirrel. Various from the species of dragonfly are also atmosphere. expert fliers, and can switch Herbivores eat to virtually any direction in the the plants, and blink of an eye, making them carnivores then eat extremely effective aerial hunters. the herbivores. These Predators also have the tools may then be eaten by other required for killing and eating carnivores. Each stage in the prey. Among these, 'sharp chain is known as a trophic level bits' feature prominently! For (from the Greek Trophikos: food). When example, the sharp talons and the top predator dies, the nutrients are strong grip of a golden eagle recycled back into the soil. (Aquila chrysaetos) are able to Many animals pierce and crush its prey to death. are both Cats such as the lynx jump on predator their prey's back and deliver a and prey, precise bite to the throat. and are Venom is another method positioned part way along the used. The adder (Vipera berus) kills Golden eagle about to food chain. The red squirrel prey such as lizards and small catch a mountain hare. (Sciurus vulgaris) is prey to animals mammals with venom injected via its such as the pine marten (Martes fangs. Many species of spider also inject martes), but the squirrel itself will venom into their insect prey, paralysing them supplement its mainly herbivorous diet with and dissolving them from within. insects and young birds in the nest and so is also a predator. Sensory adaptations Animals at the very top of the food chain are the top The European lynx serves as a good illustration of how a predators. The lynx (Lynx lynx), the wolf (Canis lupus) and predator's senses are adapted to increase its hunting the bear (Ursus arctos) (which have all been exterminated success. It has exceptionally acute vision that can detect in Britain), and a number of birds of prey are the main ones movement 4 km away and it can hear high-pitched sounds in the Caledonian Forest, as far as 5 km distant. Most predators have forward facing and they generally eyes (as humans do). This gives us binocular vision, and the Adder with a lizard. have, or had, few ability to accurately judge distances - an important threats other than requirement for hunting. Contrast this with prey species humans. As we such as deer, hares or many birds, which have eyes will see, the positioned further round on the sides of their heads, giving importance of them a much wider field of vision, and enabling them to predation in spot approaching danger more effectively. an ecosystem cannot be Hunting strategies overstated. There are many strategies for hunting prey. Some animals are ambush hunters. The sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is Physical adaptations to one example, and will often watch its prey's activities for hunting quite a while before making its surprise attack. Spiders Over millions of year, predation have strategies at different ends of a scale. The familiar has ensured that life-forms evolve garden spider (Araneus diadematus) seems to embody and adapt to become more efficient at stillness and patience as it waits at the centre of its orb web catching their prey, or eluding their predators, and for a hapless insect to become ensnared. Wolf spiders such there is a truly phenomenal range of adaptations to meet as Pardosa saltans on the other hand, are aptly named. Like these ends. Take the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) for their namesake they chase down their prey on foot.

10 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 Lynx and wolf also have contrasting strategies: the lynx Others use stillness: studies have found that when they are is another solo ambush hunter, and speedily covers short stalked by a weasel (Mustela nivalis), voles (Agrestis spp.) distances. Wolves on the other hand work as a team, and that 'freeze' are less likely to be caught than those that panic often subject deer to a trial of stamina, sometimes chasing and run. Hiding is a time-honoured way of avoiding being them for many miles to pick off the weakest individuals. eaten, and small mammals make use of holes to escape from predators. Others such as squirrels take refuge in trees, and birds to the air to escape. Size can also be advantageous: the wild cattle known as Orb web spider the aurochs (Bos primigenius) stood about 1.8 metres (6 feet) (Araneus diadematus) at the shoulder, making the adults virtually invulnerable to at the anchor point of predation. Even so, one of the deadliest of all predators, its web on a Scots pine humans, finally drove it to extinction. in Glen Affric. A number of birds and mammals have alarm calls that warn others nearby that a predator is in the area, increasing the chances of escape. Interestingly, blue tits (Parus caeruleus) for example, have a high-pitched alarm call that is above the hearing range of sparrowhawks, thus avoiding putting themselves at risk of being detected and eaten. Listening for alarm calls is a reliable way of spotting birds of prey, foxes or other predators. Some birds will also mob a predator, congregating in larger numbers to drive it away. In the Caledonian Forest and elsewhere, it is not uncommon to see crows chasing a harassed-looking buzzard (Buteo buteo) away from the area. Both predators and prey make use of camouflage to Defence against predators improve their chances of getting a meal, or of not becoming Being a predator can be a high-risk occupation; not only can one. A roe deer fawn is born with a spotted coat which they face starvation when prey is scarce, but many prey enables it to blend in to the forest floor when its mother goes animals are far from defenceless. Millions of years of off in search of food. Similarly the lynx has some spots as predation have forced prey species to develop the ability to well as extreme stealth, enabling it to move virtually fight or flee. undetected. Some animals have different types of physical In contrast, wasps and bees often have protection. Horns, hooves and teeth can all be used in characteristically visible markings, warning potential retaliation against a predator. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) has predators how inedible they are! sharp tusks which it would use if cornered by a wolf. Even fairly minor injuries can have an impact on a predator's The effects of predation on prey hunting ability, and can sometimes make the difference Predation obviously has an effect on the between life and death. individual prey in the short term, and on Some prey species use speed as their ally: the mountain prey populations over longer hare (Lepus timidus), for example, can reach speeds of up to periods. Wolves keep deer herds 50 kilometres per hour. healthy by culling sick and weak animals, the old and the young. They pose much less of a risk to a healthy, vigourous stag for example. In this way, only the strongest animals pass on their genes. In many cases A wasp's black and predation prevents a prey species from becoming yellow markings too abundant. serve to warn off Other effects of predation are more subtle and complex. potential predators. The prey species itself can even benefit, as lower numbers can mean less competition for food. However, while being hunted, prey animals will not be looking for food, which can affect their growth rate, reproduction and the like. Predator numbers themselves can also be influenced by sudden growth or declines in prey populations, which are affected by unexpected changes in food availability or by severe The long ear tufts of the weather. Eurasian lynx act like On a much larger timescale, predators and their sensitive antennae to prey each have a key influence on the evolution of enhance its hearing. the other. This is an ongoing process known as co- evolution. For example, the ancestors of today's red deer would have developed greater speed and stamina to escape from predators such as the wolf. Adeer that was particularly fast and strong would be more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on genes for speed or strength. As a result, only the fastest, or most efficient predators would succeed in catching their prey. Again, the successful predator has more chance of passing on genes for speed, acute senses or whatever feature made it a successful hunter.

Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 11 Carrion beetles, such A study in Banff National Park in the Canadian as this sexton beetle Rockies revealed similar effects by comparing areas where (Nicrophorus wolves had naturally recolonised, with those in which they vespillioides) in Glen were partially excluded by high human activity. Elk Affric, benefit from the numbers were ten times higher in the low-wolf areas, with presence of predators. higher recruitment of young animals. Again willow and aspen were depleted, with a corresponding reduction in beaver and songbird numbers. Interestingly, in other parts of the North America, wolf and elk numbers have both increased in each others' presence, suggesting that effects on distribution are in some cases more significant than control of numbers. Removing our native top carnivores has had an imbalancing effect on our forest ecosystems. Deer numbers are extremely high due to loss of predators, winter feeding by humans, and milder winters. This has been a key factor in the degradation of the Caledonian Forest, as the resultant Wider ecosystem impacts overgrazing by excessive deer numbers has prevented the The loss of our top predators in the Caledonian Forest has natural regeneration of the trees. given rise to a severely dysfunctional forest ecosystem. As well as allowing trees and scrub to regenerate, the Because these species have been missing for centuries, we influence of predation by larger carnivores would allow have almost become accustomed to a degraded biological ground flora to thrive, with the berries and flowers community. However, by observing the effects of these providing food for birds, mammals and insects, while the predators in other temperate forest ecosystems, we can get cover offered by vegetation would benefit small mammals. a clearer picture of the complex role predation plays in Large predators also keep numbers of medium-sized keeping forests healthy. predators such as foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in balance. This in Predation has a top-down influence on an ecosystem, turn reduces the pressure that foxes can have on ground- with the effects reaching through several trophic levels. nesting birds such as the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). This is known as a 'trophic cascade'. Predators regulate herbivore numbers and influence their behaviour, which in Restoring predators to the Caledonian Forest turn affects the habitat itself. For example, anecdotal The restoration of missing predators is a controversial idea evidence from eastern European forests suggests that that has been the subject of considerable debate in recent where wolf dens are present, the surrounding area will often years. Among the complex issues to be addressed are the have much lower herbivore pressure, resulting in denser potential conflicts with farming interests, ensuring the woodland. In addition, carcasses left by predators can presence of suitable habitat, and fundamentally, tackling provide food for other species such as bears, eagles and the deep-seated misconceptions that many people have carrion beetles (Nicrophorus spp.). about predator behaviour. Close involvement of farmers Wolves and full moon in and the public is essential, and we can learn from other a mountain landscape. countries that have already carried out reintroductions. ILLUSTRATION BY MARY WOLF. While it may be some time before we could realistically hope to see animals such as the wolf back in their rightful place, the lynx is a much more feasible candidate for the nearer future, as there is certainly sufficient habitat and prey. It is clear from the scientific evidence that a carefully planned, and appropriately timed reintroduction of our missing predators is essential for the long-term restoration of a healthy forest ecosystem.

In Yellowstone National Park in the USA, the presence of wolves has had positive effects on the ecosystem. They were hunted to extinction there by the 1920s but were reintroduced in 1995. Since their return, there have been noticeable effects on the riparian (riverside) vegetation, Red fox with a bird it with regeneration of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) has caught. willow (Salix spp.), and other species. This is because the elk (the American name for red deer, Cervus elaphus) have become wary about grazing down by the rivers, where their view is limited; this forces them onto higher ground. The aspen encourages beavers (Castor canadensis), while the beavers' dams attract moose (Alces alces), which like to graze in the pools, along with other wildlife. Ecologists noted that before the reintroduction, the control of elk numbers by humans was not enough to prevent aspen from being overgrazed. The reason for this was that even at lower numbers the elk were able to congregate densely enough to deplete what is one of their preferred food sources.

12 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 Tooth & Claw - Living alongside Britain's predators By Peter Cairns veryone has an opinion about predators and how - or predator-related issues. whether - they should be managed. Despite our The recently launched web site at Edeep-rooted fascination with eagles, otters and even www.toothandclaw.org.uk is the foundation wolves, their need to kill other animals to survive can for the project which, over the coming years, distort our perspective and influence our attitude towards is set to be the most far-reaching survey of its them. kind in Britain. Visitors to the site can Predators mean different things to different people but contribute to a discussion forum, complete a very few with an interest in the British countryside remain thought-provoking questionnaire or simply indifferent. Foxes, hen harriers and peregrine falcons have register to be kept up to date with the all become political symbols, pawns in battles between project's progress. Wide participation is vital different socio-economic or special interest groups, each and everyone with an interest in how our filtering out selective information to the public which best countryside is managed is encouraged to serves their particular agenda, often at the expense of take part. biological fact. Peter Cairns, wildlife photographer and Managing predators is really about managing people's project founder says “The time is right to perceptions - what we believe, what we value and how we build bridges between conflicting interest interact with the natural world. groups and we firmly believe this can only So how do we really feel about Britain's predators and emerge through constructive dialogue, a how are those feelings persuaded by culture, myth and better understanding of our wild predators economics? Can the shooting of seals to protect fish farm and a stronger empathy with communities interests ever be justified? Should the impact of pet cats on whose lives are affected by their presence.” small birds and mammals be controlled? Should public Tooth & Claw ultimately asks money be spent on returning wolves and lynx to our wild questions of ourselves: it exposes our fears, areas? our prejudices, our inconsistencies and Tooth & Claw is an innovative multi-media initiative reminds us of our place in nature - as the which will explore some of these issues and provide a most powerful predator of all. meeting place for anecdotal evidence and scientific fact. Its Tooth & Claw is grateful to Trees for objective is to break down preconceived barriers and Life for endorsing the objectives of the improve communication and awareness on a range of project.

European lynx in Norway. PHOTO BY PETER CAIRNS.

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) feeding on a red fox in the Cairngorms National Park. PHOTO BY PETER CAIRNS.

October 20: 7.30 pm, BBC2, 'The Trees that made Britain' Trees for Life will feature in this television programme about conifers.

November 17: Trees for Life East Anglia meeting. If you have been on a work week, or are interested in what it's like, or want to be involved in local fundraising for Trees for Life, please come to this meeting at the Downstairs Bar, St. Andrews Tavern, Norwich. Friday 17th November at 8 pm. DiaryDiary DatesDates For information, please contact Rupert Eris, on 01263-512049. Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 13 Supporting our work in the Forest By Mandeigh Wells Fun days out in the forest Over the last six months we've asked a great deal of you, and boy did you deliver! Thanks to you, Trees for Life has taken a huge leap forward and we're firmly established in Andrew Marshall- the realm of major Scottish landowners. And while funding Roberts of Standard the purchase of Dundreggan was a big undertaking, it is Life with the tree he merely the beginning of a long and exciting road back to planted in Glen Affric - wilderness both for the estate and Trees for Life. As always note the new buds, I can never express enough our need for continued financial showing this year's support. Money to us is like good quality compost, it keeps growth getting us nourished and bearing fruit! under way. I'm always deeply moved by your responses to our appeals for funds and I know that you are as committed to, and inspired by, the return of the forest as we are. Sometimes sitting in my office, my job can seem a world away from the practical element of Trees for Life's work so it's been great to get out to the forest a fair bit lately. Back in May, I took Dave Cosgrove, sales manager from Boehringer- Ingelheim out to Glen Affric. Boehringer- Ingelheim once again made it into the top 100 best companies to work for and The List of Champions and Founders grows ever celebrated by having a tree planted for longer and we're delighted to include: each of their staff members. We could hardly have got a better day - perfect blue Champions (donations of £500 or more) skies, warm sun and not a midge in sight! The Richard Fraser Charitable Trust Mr W F Ball Instead we were surrounded by dancing, Zöe Hertzog & Martin Blount iridescent green hairstreak butterflies. We stood at the Meallan exclosure, drinking in Founders (donations of £200 or more) the view and appreciating the fantastic Fay Blackburn Thomas Currie success of both the planting and natural Bob Cotterill Philip and Myrtle Ashmole regeneration, for the return of the wild forest there. Dave added to it by grasping a Fundraisers for the Forest spade and planting a couple of trees Lynsey Stuart was so inspired by her work week at Trees for himself! It's a great way of putting what I Life that she decided to walk the length of the West do into perspective. This is what your Highland Way to raise money! So far she has raised £274 donations do for Trees for Life - they for us. Thanks Lynsey and I hope the blisters have gone. actually enable us and our dedicated work As I write, Sarah & Penny Cannon are navigating 315 week participants to bring the forest back miles of river and canal, including 240 locks, 5 moveable to where it belongs! bridges, 21 small aqueducts and 5 tunnels in their barge In June we were delighted to 'Gosling' and we're delighted that they decided to choose us welcome back Andrew Marshall-Roberts, as the benefactors of their efforts. head of corporate social responsibility at If you have been inspired to do something interesting Dave Cosgrove of Standard Life. Back in January, Andrew came and planted and unusual to raise money for Trees for Life, we'd love to Boehringer-Ingelheim the first of the 100,000 trees that Standard Life's very hear from you! How about a sponsored sky dive? Running with one of the trees he successful Treemail scheme purchased. With only beautiful the London marathon perhaps? Or you could take part in planted in Glen Affric. sunshine and no horizontal sleet this time, it was great to see this years annual Walk on the Wild side. With Walks in PHOTO BY MANDEIGH WELLS. Andrew's tree looking very robust and obviously thriving. glorious Glen Affric and Edinburgh on the 1st October this It's also great to know that Standard Life is keeping up an is a great time for families to get together and enjoy the interest in the project. countryside. And if you can't make it to one of these walks, It's not just about trees… why not organise one of your own? I have sponsorship On a recent day out on Dundreggan, I watched a great forms that can be tailored for any event. Email me spotted woodpecker leave its nest hole just a few feet away. [email protected] or tel: 01309 691292 for We discovered pinhead lichens, a minute species living in more information. the upper branches of aspens, and upside down on the path, Now, fundraising couldn't be easier with a small iridescent blue beetle caught my eye. At first glance www.smartgive.com . Trees for Life is already registered it seemed dead, but feeling the warmth of my hand he began with them and if you have a fundraising idea of your own, to awaken, stretching out his legs. Then on a beautiful you can set up your own individual fundraising page with primrose-covered hill, I tripped over a slow worm! sponsorship taken online. If you let me know too I can put Leaving Dundreggan that evening I was still full of the a link directly from the home page of our website. excitement of the day and it reminded me once again that Meanwhile, I'd also like to thank Kate Smith for everything we do forms part of the wonderful and intricate spending two days manning a Trees for Life stall at web of life of the forest. Thank you to all who donated to Edinburgh's Treefest, despite the rather strong winds and our Dundreggan Appeal. soaring temperatures!

14 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 Looks who's supporting Trees for Life! As our list of company supporters grows we get a real sense of environmental responsibility from the business community and we're delighted to help organisations take this route. Give me a ring on 01309 691292 and lets talk. We have a number of great schemes that can be tailored to suit any company.

Standard Life: Treemail raised £100,000 for Trees for Life Standard Life Bank: A similar Treemail scheme raised £3,890 Boehringer-Ingelheim: Dedicated a tree to each member of staff and raised £5,000 for us! Dan Puplett at the wheel of Holly, the new 17 seater minibus BizzEnergy: Planting a tree for every customer who we purchased with funds raised by our most recent appeal. signs up to their green energy tariff. Farewell Hazel and welcome to Holly! Paramo directional clothing: Locating a new minibus has been interesting! At one point it Supporting us with a donation of £1 for every new Pájaro didn't seem that there was a single new Ford Transit minibus on jacket sold. Look out for the launch of this new the planet, but luckily we were able to locate the perfect vehicle garment in August! for our requirements, a specially ordered minibus that had then been cancelled and was just waiting for a new home. This new Speyside Wildlife Watching Holidays: minibus has been christened Holly, and is taking over from Making a donation towards their carbon emissions for Hazel, our old workhorse who now needs to be put out to their holiday transport. pasture. We still need some more funds for the payment of Unicorn Grocery & Vegetarian Express: Both Holly though, so if you want to help keep our volunteers on the companies have made regular donations to reduce the road, please keep those donations coming in. Thank you to all impact of the carbon emissions from their vehicles. of our supporters who have contributed so far, and to the Linley Shaw Foundation who donated £5,000 to the appeal. Our Bookseller Supplies: Continue to support Trees for Life current total is now £12,000. And, if, like Gordon McRuvie and with a regular monthly donation based on book and Norman Thomas, you'd like to sponsor a seat or two packaging sales. (sponsorship is £900 per seat), we'd love to hear from you. Sibmar Construction: Planting trees for every customer Thank you! that completes and returns their survey. Allan Pollock-Morris Make a regular donation and we'll plant a tree Allan Pollok-Morris: This photographer plants a tree with us for each new client he works for. for you! I'd like to say a big thank you to all of you who returned the McNaughton Paper: They are going to offer tree regular donor form from the last mailing. I've also enclosed our planting as a 'Treebate' to their customers. regular giving form this time too. Please, please consider Johnson Recycling: Continue to support Trees for Life supporting us with a regular monthly donation. These funds are with a donation for every school that signs up to their the lifeblood of Trees for Life and knowing that there will be a printer cartridge recycling scheme. guaranteed source of funds makes it much easier for us to plan future projects and maintain existing ones. Special Thanks and Grateful Appreciation As a special incentive, if you join our direct debit We'd like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the following Trusts, scheme by giving £10 or more per month, we'll plant a tree foundations, organisations and individuals who have very especially for you and send you a beautiful frame-able generously made substantial donations to us since April 2006: certificate. Craignish Trust, John D Scott Charitable Trust, Richard Fraser Charitable Trust, Linley Wightman Shaw Foundation, Tubney Fancy a hot date? Trust, Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust, Mackintosh Foundation, Our 2007 calendars and diaries are hot off the press and Hartnett Trust, Alerce Trust, A.M. Pilkington’s Charitable available now. Full of exquisitely produced images from the Trust, Vegetarian Express, Bookseller Supplies, Sibmar forests of the world they are not just a handy way to remember Construction, Anton Mussett, Gordon McRuvie and Norman special days and events but a great gift and memento. Order Thomas. directly from Natural Collection through the link on our home page or Tel: 0870 331 33 33. All orders from the link on our Can you help make our wishes come true? home page raise funds for Trees for Life too. We are looking for… ● An Apple Macintosh computer and printer for Dundreggan ● Office furniture for Dundreggan ● 2 X Garmin GPS Units, model 12XL or equivalent 12 channel units ● A four wheel drive crew cab pickup truck for Dundreggan ● A new set of specialist planting spades ● Goggles and gloves for our work week volunteers ● If you'd like to donate any of these items, or contribute to their purchase, we'd love to hear from you. Please give us a call on 01309 691292 or you can make a donation online through our secure server at www.treesforlife.org.uk/cgi- bin/multi_form.pl#donation.

Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006 15 Caledonian Forest Photo Gallery Red September The prevailing colours in the Caledonian Forest change with the seasons, and the purple hues of blossoming heather in August give way to the bright red of ripening berries and fruiting fungi in September.

The leaves of blaeberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) turn red or yellow in September, before being shed for the winter.

September is the month when the berries of the rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia) turn bright red, attracting birds which eat them and Cowberries disperse their seeds. (Vaccinium vitis- idaea) are evergreen, and their berries ripen to bright red in September, while a few late flowers will bloom even in October.

This bright red-capped fungus (Russula emetica), known as the sickener, is common in the forest in September.

Red bog-moss (Sphagnum capillifolium) is red throughout the year, but its colour is often more intense in months like September, when there can be a lot of rain. In good years for fungi, fly agarics (Amanita muscaria) are abundant under birch trees, which they grow in mycorrhizal association with.

Trees for Life,The Park,Findhorn Bay,Forres IV36 3TZ,Scotland. Tel.0845 458 3505 • Fax 0845 458 3506 • E-mail: [email protected] World Wide Web sites: www.treesforlife.org.uk and www.restore-earth.org Trees for Life is a Scottish Charity, number SCO21303. Designed and printed on recycled paper made from 75% post-consumer waste using vegetable oil-based inks by Posthouse Printing, Findhorn Tel: 01309 691 640 Illustrations by Caragh McAuley and photos by Alan Watson Featherstone unless otherwise indicated. 16 Caledonia Wild! • Summer 2006