A remote ancient woodland, housing Scotland’s oldest wild pine, has been rescued from potential loss and given the opportunity for regeneration, thanks to Trees for Life and its Affric Highlands rewilding initiative. The pinewood, home to approximately 57 pines, including the oldest one dating back at least 565 years, faced a significant threat from overgrazing by an excessive number of deer. To protect this unique ecosystem, Trees for Life collaborated with the landowner, creating a deer-proof fencing enclosure to shield the woodland from deer and allow young seedlings to grow without impediment.
The oldest pine in Glen Loyne, dated to at least 1458, represents a living connection to the last ice age. In a comprehensive survey conducted as part of the Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project, Trees for Life identified the need for additional fencing to secure the ancient pines outside the existing protective barriers. The organization erected 1.5 kilometers of new fencing, connecting, extending, and repairing existing sections, ensuring the pinewood can naturally regenerate for the first time in decades. “Fencing is only a temporary fix, but for now it’s a vital way of giving these precious pinewoods a fighting chance of recovery until effective landscape-scale deer management can be properly established,” said James Rainey.
James Rainey, senior ecologist at Trees for Life, emphasized the global uniqueness of Glen Loyne’s wild pines and Caledonian pinewoods, considering them a special aspect of Scotland’s character and culture. While acknowledging that fencing is a temporary solution, Rainey highlighted its importance in providing a vital opportunity for these precious pinewoods to recover until effective landscape-scale deer management can be established. “Glen Loyne’s wild pines and other Caledonian pinewoods are globally unique, and a special part of Scotland’s character and culture. Saving and restoring them offers a major opportunity for tackling the nature and climate crises,” said James Rainey, senior ecologist at Trees for Life.
Glen Loyne, historically part of the royal hunting grounds of Cluanie, is within the Affric Highlands – the UK’s largest rewilding landscape. Trees for Life and Rewilding Europe lead this 30-year community-focused initiative, restoring woodland, peatland, and riverside habitats over half a million acres from Loch Ness to the west coast, promoting re-peopling and nature-based economic opportunities. The Caledonian forest, once widespread in the Highlands, now survives at less than 2%, making conservation efforts crucial for preserving this rich habitat and supporting declining wildlife.
Funding for the nature recovery project in Glen Loyne was provided by the family of Harry Steven, co-author of “The Native Pinewoods of Scotland,” published in 1959, a pioneering book recognizing the special status of pinewoods. The project aligns with Trees for Life’s dedication to rewilding the Highlands and restoring the Caledonian forest.
For more information, visit treesforlife.org.uk.
Image credit GlenLoyne_SianAddison, Trees for Life