Protecting Our Natural Rainforest in Scotland

Protecting Our Natural Rainforest in Scotland

Scotland is home to Oak, Ash, Birch, Hazel and Scots Pine. We are also home to rare mosses, liver warts, the lichens and many fungi and ferns. These tend to be in the West and in Argyll as the species survive better in the wet climate. Here in Scotland, it is a benefit to the climate and weather as the rain and the different types of soil which in turn creates the best place for the species to grow. Hazel Coppicing used to be a traditional practice in Britain however this is taken as a measure to help biodiversity. However this can affect the rainforests which we so desperately need to protect. 
Hazel is a broadleaf which grows not only on a single stump but also on multiple stems. These have historically been used for fence hurdles and barrel hoops. As we mentioned above coppicing means trimming back the stems to then be able to use the materials and encourage the growth of the tree again. 
 
We have to be so careful with coppicing however as this can damage the biodiversity and in particular if there are large parts coppiced and cleared. Hazel provides a home for many different species to grow and to flourish including lichens of which in Scotland there are around 1500 different types. Within our forests in Scotland the bark of the young stems is usually a lovely silver colour which is made by the lichen which grows in the bark. 
Many of the wonderful mosses, ferns, lichens and liverwarts are not to be found anywhere else in the whole world. There are however also many others that aids the biodiversity and the growth of all the species here. One of our favourites are the bluebells and primroses that flourish and grow. These again must be preserved and protected and encouragement for others to tread carefully where they may be lurking prior to flowering. It takes a whole country to protect all these wonderful species and keep our rainforest alive. 
Although often the woods look natural they have all been shaped in one way or another by man. The Oak trees for example have been a vital requirement for their wood and use as a fuel source. Back in the 1700s the bark was often used for making tannin for leather. Often the forests are cleared for animals or replanted with quick growing conifer trees. 
More recently we have become more aware of how important it is to preserve this element of our country and there are huge plans for the conservation and the regeneration of these important woodlands. This is often why there are so many felled conifers, clearing of those invasive shrubs like rhododendrons, and protected areas from grazing animals. These changes are all made slowly and graded for everyone to adjust to these changes. These changes to many will be frightening however they are required to ensure the diversity and the beauty of all the areas being restored. 
 
Glen Nant is a true spectacle of both nature/beauty and history. Here there are not only Oak/birch and Hazelwood but also the remnants of settlements alongside an array of lichens and mosses. There are some incredible ant colonies and butterflies which almost dance in the woodland, which is a truly wonderful experience. 
Scotland’s rainforest is also important for the communities surrounding it for exercise health and it provides a classroom for school children and the rainforest can contribute to the green recovery. People — Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest (savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk) Provides lots of information about the people who depend on the rainforest’s survival and what each of them are doing to promote and protect our wonderful landscapes. There is a drive towards working to restore degraded former woodlands and create new native woodlands all over Scotland. The aim is to improve the ecological and habitats robustness which in turn aids the carbon stores and this improves the river quality. The important factor to take away is that every action has a consequence and we can all be doing something every day to help the rainforests around our own homes.