On Day 7, we quoted an interview with Jenny Taylor, in which she related the history and location of Orkney tree-planting. Jenny is known in Orkney as the 'tree-wife'. (Not because she is married to a tree you understand, 'wife' is an old North-East Scotland term for a woman.)
A landscape architect by training, Jenny ended up running the Orkney Woodland Development Project alongside her main job. The group's aim was to keep an eye on all proposed tree planting projects to ensure that they fit into the landscape and do not interfere with existing wildlife or archaeological sites of interest.
'The emphasis is on native species which are all propagated from Orkney seed and cuttings and which will hopefully adapt and evolve in the face of global warming.'
Jenny is the author of the Orkney Native Tree Conservation Strategy which is available in the Orkney Room and is a great overview of the history and future of Orkney's trees. It contains this plan of the tree cover which existed in Orkney in 1995:
As can be seen, the only native woodland left, (in fact the most Northerly native woodland in Britain) is Berriedale woods on Hoy. Berriedale is about a mile North of Rackwick Bay and is not extensive. It seems to be a small scrub of trees and shrubbery confined to a small valley as can be seen in the image below:
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| Image from Wiki Commons |
The dominant tree is Birch but Grey Willow, Eared Willow, Rowan and Aspen have also been noted.There are a few more photos on the Orkney Woodland Project page too: http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/WOODLAND/index.asp?pageid=595130
At the end of the Orkney Native Tree Conservation Strategy, a number of possible future projects are listed. One fascinating area of research is whether or not the Berriedale woodland is 'moving', Birnam wood-style due to Birch trees regenerating on its edge.
If you feel inspired by all this tree talk and want to plant your own trees then you could consult our copy of 'Tree Planting in The Orkney Islands' in the Orkney Room. Those of you who are not Orkney residents can visit the Woodland Trust website for some advice.
No space to plant a tree of your own? No problem. You can plant trees from the comfort of your laptop by supporting these charities:
Not far from Robin's bonfire site an apple-seed took root. I watched it through the summer, a green twig with two leaves, ...Yesterday I saw it again, a mere dry red-budded matchstick with one fallen leaf lying beside it...the thought came to me of the wise man who, when asked by his friend what his actions would be if he heard the world was to end tomorrow, replied: "I would still plant my little apple tree." Using a tin lid I scooped up the seedling and transplanted it in a sheltered corner of the garden; a very tiny apple tree, but a symbol, and a hope.
Bessie Skea in 'A Countrywoman's Calendar'
Information taken from:
Living Orkney #7
Tree Planting in Orkney published by Orkney Islands Council
Growth in Britain's Most Northerly Woodland by Chapman and Crawford
Orkney Native Tree Conservation Stratedgy by Jenny Taylor
A Countrywoman's Diary and A Countrywoman's Calendar, both by Bessie Skea.
As I said before (but I think you deleted it) there is another woodland in Orkney, larger than Happy Valley, non-native. It's not on Jenny Taylor's map for some reason, although it was in existence (and she knew of it) in 1995. Again, I won't tell you where it is!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Sorry if we deleted your last one. It's good to know that there are other woodlands out there.
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