Mountain Woodland Consultancy Services
We provide...
Mountain woodland surveys
We carry out surveys of remnant populations of specialist montane species and other trees and shrubs occurring at high-altitude. Identifying and mapping these populations is the starting point for understanding the potential for habitat restoration.
Habitat restoration and conservation guidance
Building from the survey of existing fragments we can help identify the scope for mountain woodland in your nature restoration project
We are happy to collect seed of any native species. Get in touch to request a collection for your tree nursery.
Seed collection and practical conservation
Mountain Woodland
Defining mountain woodland is surprisingly tricky. We used to define mountain woodland as all trees and shrubs growing above 400 m asl; however, further north and west across Scotland the climatic conditions mean that traditional montane species and growth forms occur at lower altitudes. Perhaps the best approach is to recognise mountain woodland as the broad ecotone above the timberline (the maximum altitude at which upright single-stemmed trees occur).
What is mountain woodland?
Where is mountain woodland?
Currently, most high-altitude trees and shrubs are restricted to crags and steep-sided burns where they can escape the pressures of grazing.
Although studying the past distribution of mountain woodland habitats is difficult, the majority view amongst conservationists is that mountain woodland habitats in Scotland have been restricted to inaccessible refugia by centuries of burning and grazing. It is our view that many species of trees and shrubs have the potential to be much more widespread across the Highlands than is currently represented by the existing fragments.
Currently, most high-altitude trees and shrubs are restricted to crags and steep-sided burns where they can escape the pressures of grazing.
Although studying the past distribution of mountain woodland habitats is difficult, the majority view amongst conservationists is that mountain woodland habitats in Scotland have been restricted to inaccessible refugia by centuries of burning and grazing. It is our view that many species of trees and shrubs have the potential to be much more widespread across the Highlands than is currently represented by the existing fragments.
Montane willows
There are six native montane willow species in Scotland:
Woolly willow - Salix lanata [Pictured right] -->
Downy willow - Salix lapponum
Whortle-leaved willow - Salix myrsinites
Mountain willow - Salix arbuscula
Net-leaved willow - Salix reticulata
Dwarf willow - Salix herbacea
There are also two more submontane species:
Dark-leaved willow (Salix myrsinifolia)
Tea-leaved willow (Salix phylicifolia)
Other willow species do also occur at high- altitude:
Goat willow (Salix caprea)
Grey willow (Salix cinerea)
Eared willow (Salix aurita)
Creeping willow (Salix repens)
6
2
Native submontane willow species present at high-altitudes
Native specialist montane wilow species
4
Other willow species which occur at high-altitudes
Betula
Betula pubescens subsp. czeraponazii,
Western Norway
Dwarf birch - Betula nana
Dwarf birch is a small dwarf shrub with a fragmented distribution across Scotland, mostly in areas of blanket bog. However in Scandinavia, dwarf birch is widespread and it may be more suited to growth on mineral soils.
Scottish Mountain Birch - Betula pubescens var. pumila (?)
The existence of a separate variety or subspecies of downy birch at high-altitudes in Scotland is a subject of considerable debate. The most recent paper on the topic (Amphlett, 2022) concludes that most high-altitude birch in Scotland is Betula pubescens var, fragrans, which also occurs at low-altitude. However, there are many old records of Betula pubescens var. pumila/ subsp. tortuosa/ subsp. czeraponazii from across Scotland. This subspecies - true "mountain birch" - is the result of clinal hybridisation with B. nana and is widespread in Norway (photographed near Ulvik, Western Norway).
Rock Whitebeam
Sorbus rupicola, Loch Maree
Rock Whitebeam - Sorbus rupicola
See BSBI Handbook No.14 (Rich et al., 2010)
Rock whitebeam is a shrub or small tree, with characteristics oval leaves. Apart from on the Isle of Arran, it is Scotland's only native whitebeam. The common whitebeam (S. aria) native to Southern England is widely planted, but S. rupicola has narrower leaves of which the lowest part are untoothed.
Rock whitebeam is endemic to Northwest Europe, and is the second most widespread Sorbus species in Britain (only rowan is more widely distributed). This is because, unlike the Arran whitebeam and the many other rare local endemic Sorbus microspecies, rock whitebeam is an old species, whose evolution predates the last ice age.
Rock whitebeam is apomictic, meaning it can set seed without fertilisation. A useful trait for isolated populations!
However, all is not as well as it seems with Scotland's rock whitebeam populations. Many populations are in fact single isolated trees, confined to refugia by intense grazing pressures. The effects of this long-term lack of gene flow due to this level of isolation is unclear.
As a hardy light-demanding species, with significant biodiversity benefits, there is great (so far largely unexplored) potential for rock whitebeam in mountain woodland restoration projects. We recently collected seed from the Loch Maree islands for NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland.
Juniper
Juniperus communis subsp. communis, Rothiemurchus Estate
Juniper (Juniperus communis) grows everywhere - well, nearly. We have recorded it from coastal dunes to waterlogged islands, pine forest to upland plateau. It is not, however, tolerant of high levels of grazing, burning and is currently threatened by Phytophthora austrocedra. As a component of mountain woodland, juniper has been lost from many treelines.
To survive in such a range of habitats, juniper takes on a multitude of forms. There are three recognised subspecies of juniper present in the UK, two of which are widespread in Scotland. Both subspecies occur at high-altitude and should not be distinguished by growth form alone.
Dwarf juniper (subsp. nana), is a small, prostrate plant identified by their smaller needles (<15mm - Stace, 1997) which taper abruptly into a point.
Common juniper (subsp. communis) exhibits a number of growth forms from a small tree to a dwarf shrub. The larger needles (<20mm - Stace, 1997) end in a long drawn out (acuminate) point.
Juniper "berries" (really cones) have a long period of dormancy and can be collected year-round.
Get in touch to discuss the potential for mountain woodland restoration in your area.
Catkin Ecology
Finding Scotland's missing habitat
CONTACT US
info@catkinecology.co.uk
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