Management Masterclass in Ancient Woodlands
Spirits remained undampened at a rather wet Cashel Forest, near Balmaha on the banks of Loch Lomond where Forest Managers and Environment Team members from Scottish Woodlands Ltd enjoyed a masterclass in ancient woodland management - from the daughter of the company’s first Managing Director.
Carol Crawford, a botanical expert, led the annual course which saw 11 staff attend the training day. Carol explained the various woodland types found at Cashel and introduced attendees to many of the flowers and plants that makes the biodiversity of ancient woodlands so special.
Staff are pictured at Cashel Forest in front of the largest and possibly the oldest wild crab apple tree in Scotland.
Stuart Wilkie, Scottish Woodlands Environment and Certification Manager, said: “The Ancient Woodland Management training day is always a very popular event, and very rewarding and informative for those who attend.”
“Everyone really valued Carol’s expertise and insights to learn more about these ancient woodlands, which are the very highest conservation value woodlands we have - and also to learn more about the flora which helps make them so special, and so biodiverse.”
The Oakwood at Cashel is part of what is known as Scotland’s temperate rainforest a rare, fragile and threatened ecosystem. Our Environment Team are currently exploring ways in which Scottish Woodlands and their clients can work with the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest to further protect and expand fragments of temperate rainforest within our management.