Trees for life, Glen Garry April 2012

I recently volunteered with Trees for Life, working to assist with the conservation and regeneration of the Caledonian forest in Glen Garry, in the Highlands. The activities we performed were planting of seedling birch trees and scots pine trees, removal of non-native (invasive) species such as sitka spruce and rhododendron from young birch forests, surveying of new (naturally regenerating) tree growth and creation of fences to protect junipers from browsing by highland cows. I volunteered because forests in the highlands are being lost and not regenerating due to massive overgrazing by deer and sheep, and I really want to help prevent this happen. This will allow the incredible range of species that a Caledonian forest can support to flourish, maximising biodiversity and also try and ensure that future generations can benefit from these forests. The volunteering was great, we had amazing weather, while the rest of the country was very wet! The location was truly spectacular, on the shores of a loch with a number of small islands on it, working in beautiful young birch forests. There were also very timid highland cows in the area we worked, which were very entertaining. It was incredibly satisfying to perform a range of different tasks that will all contribute to helping native forest flourish in Glen Garry. Some of the terrain we worked on was very overgrown and steep, and we were at the mercy of ticks. Rhododendron removal in the heat was probably the most difficult task! Great week though, and look forward to doing another one next year