07-08-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Trust plays matchmaker for Ben Lomond's relict trees
By collecting cuttings and growing saplings in its tree nursery at Ben Lomond, the Trust is pairing up potential partners through planting male plants amongst the patch of relict trees to create a viable and sustainable seed source.
The work aims to protect mountain willow scrub, one of the six priority habitats identified in the Trust's Plan for Nature, which provides a framework and focus for its nature conservation efforts and includes the actions it will take to care for its willow populations.
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Alasdair Eckersall, National Trust for Scotland Property Manager and Senior Ranger at Ben Lomond, said: 'This project was made possible by funding from players of People's Postcode Lottery and will support our nature conservation on Ben Lomond. It will enable improvements to our tree nursery, that is crucial in helping us to grow native montane willow scrub species that are replanted on this beautiful mountainside.
'We are nurturing the cuttings to develop rooted male saplings that will be planted out on Lomond side in future and we're grateful to Forestry and Land Scotland for the permission to obtain the cuttings. The cuttings grown in our nursery will be used to help expand the population of downy willow on the ben and protect the relict female trees from dying out. The plants will take some time to grow and develop strong roots system before we can plant them and we expect to do this in 2028, so it's a long-term vision that we hope will have a positive impact on the biodiversity of this precious landscape.'
One of the female population of downy willow shrubs in the highest crags of West Ptarmigan (Image: The National Trust for Scotland)
The funding will also support the creation of woodland pasture habitats that will see enclosed areas of new tree saplings planted across the lower slopes of Ben Lomond by teams of volunteers who will construct the fenced enclosures. This will help to protect the young trees from grazing animals, and in the longer-term soften the landscape, combat habitat loss and support biodiversity.
Mr Eckersall continued: 'It is thanks to the continued generosity of our members and supporters, including players of People's Postcode Lottery, that we're able to continue our vital work to care for, protect and share Scotland's nature, beauty and heritage at this special place for everyone to enjoy.'
Ben Lomond is the most southerly Munro at 3,193ft/974m. The summit is the highest part of the area of land in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, which also includes the woodlands and fields of the lower slopes, peatland and moorland, and the crags and steep slopes of the high ground.
One of the most popular hill-walks in Scotland, visitor can enjoy spectacular views of Loch Lomond from the summit, guided tours by the Trust's team of rangers, and wildlife such as ptarmigan and ravens, skylarks and wheatears, black grouse and even pine martens.
