| Caledonian Forest | |
|---|---|
 Caledonian Forest above the Allt Ruadh inGlen Feshie | |
 Map of theecoregion | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Temperate coniferous forest |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 180 km2 (69 sq mi) |
TheCaledonian Forest is the ancient (old-growth) temperate forest ofScotland. The forest today is a reduced-extent version of the pre-human-settlement forest, existing inseveral dozen remnant areas.
TheScots pines of the Caledonian Forest are directly descended from the first pines to arrive in Scotland following theLate Glacial; arriving about7000 BCE. The forest reached its maximum extent about5000 BC, after which the Scottish climate became wetter and windier. This changed climate reduced the extent of the forest significantly by2000 BC. From that date, human actions (including the grazing effects of sheep and deer) reduced it to its current extent.
The forest exists as 35 remnants, as authenticated by Steven & Carlisle (1959)[1] (or 84 remnants, including later subjective subdivisions of the 35) covering about 180 square kilometres (69 sq mi) or 18,000 hectares (44,000 acres). The Scots pines of these remnants are, by definition, directly descended from the first pines to arrive in Scotland following the ice age. These remnants have adapted genetically to different Scottish environments, and as such, are globally unique; their ecological characteristics form an unbroken, 9000-year chain of natural evolution with a distinct variety of soils, vegetation, and animals.
To a great extent the remnants survived on land that was either too steep, too rocky, or too remote to be agriculturally useful. The largest remnants are inStrathspey andStrath Dee on highly acidic, freely drained glacial deposits that are of little value for cultivation and domestic stock. An examination of the earliest maps of Scotland suggests that the extent of the Caledonian Forest remnants has changed little since 1600 AD.
The name comes fromPliny the Elder, who reveals that 30 years after the Roman invasion of Britain their knowledge of it did not extend beyond the neighbourhood ofsilva caledonia. He gives no information about where thesilva caledonia was, but the known extent of the Roman occupation suggest that it was north of theRiver Clyde and west of theRiver Tay.[citation needed]
Following thelast glacial period,trees began to recolonise what is now theBritish Isles over aland bridge which is now beneath theStrait of Dover. Forests of this type were found all over what is now the island ofGreat Britain for a few thousand years, before theclimate began to slowly warm in theAtlantic period, and thetemperate coniferous forests began retreating north into theScottish Highlands, the last remaining climatic region suitable for them in the British Isles (seeClimate of Scotland).
Thenative pinewoods that formed this westernmost outpost of thetaiga of post-glacial Europe are estimated to have covered 15,000 km2 (3,700,000 acres) as a vastwilderness ofScots pine,birch,rowan,aspen,juniper,oak and a few other hardy species. On the west coast, oak and birch predominated in atemperate rainforestecosystem rich inferns,mosses andlichens.
The charityTrees for Life (Scotland) has been working to conserve the remaining forest, and reforest areas where it has been lost, using fences to prevent deer from eating saplings. This involves the reintroduction of the full range of native flora, includingmycorrhizal fungi that assistsoil regeneration.[2][3]
Being a uniqueecosystem in the British Isles, the Caledonian Pinewoods are home to some of the islands'rarestwildlife. It is considered to be one of the last remaining wildernesses in the British Isles.
Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests found breeding nowhere else in the British Isles:
Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests rare elsewhere in the British Isles:
Mammal species present in Caledonian pine forests:
Insect species in the Caledonian pine forests:
Mammal species extinct in Caledonian pine forests:
In recent years, there has been a growing interest to reintroduce animals which are native to but currently extinct inGreat Britain, back into Caledonian pine forests. Corporations have been set up to persuade the government to allow this. The long-running campaign to reintroduce the Eurasian beaver toKnapdale inArgyll has been successful,[10] and there is some support for the reintroduction of thegrey wolf andEurasian lynx.
Recently, some landowners have announced plans to build largegame reserves on their land and release the species within them.[11] Paul Lister plans to release Eurasian lynx,brown bear, grey wolf,elk,wild boar and species already present in Scotland into a huge 200 km2 (49,000-acre) enclosure at his estate,Alladale Wilderness Reserve,[11] although releasing top predators such as wolves and bears has become a difficult proposition with local and national regulations.[11] An initial trial enclosure of 5.5 km2 (1,400 acres) was built with elk, wild boar, red deer and roe deer.[11]
A review of the native pinewoods of Scotland,Steven & Carlisle (1959)[1] highlighted the plight of the remaining 35 ancient pinewood sites, many of which had been damaged by felling, fire and intensive grazing from sheep and deer. A later review in the 1980s[12] showed that further damage had occurred through ploughing and planting with non-native conifers with less than 12,000 ha of the ancient habitat remaining. A subsequent guide to the ancient pinewoods reviews the conservation story and provides a summary of the management in each site as well as a guide on how to reach all the woods using public transport, walking, and cycling.[13] Much of the remaining Caledonian pine forest is fullyprotected with most of the forest lying within theCairngorms National Park. TheRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) andForestry and Land Scotland also own several areas of pinewood on their reserves. One of the largest remaining areas is Ballochbuie Forest on theBalmoral Estate, which is protected as aSpecial Area of Conservation under the European UnionHabitats Directive.[14]
Scientific research continues on the ecology of the Caledonian Forest and its restoration. Populations of the rare groundcover,Linnaea borealis, may be too isolated from one another to produce viable seed.[15] Diversity offungi has also been affected by the decrease in habitat.[16] Theagaric fungusMycena purpureofusca is commonly found in Caledonian pine woods,[17] and it is considered anindicator species for that habitat type.[18]Fire appears to increase the natural recruitment of Scots pine seedlings.[19]
In theMatter of Britain, the forest is the site of one ofKing Arthur's Twelve Battles, according to theHistoria Brittonum, in which the battle is calledCat Coit Celidon. ScholarsRachel Bromwich and Marged Haycock suggest that the army of trees animated by sorcerers in the Old Welsh poemCad Goddeu ("Battle of the Trees") are intended to be the Caledonian Forest.[20]
In relatedMerlin literature, the figure ofMyrddin Wyllt retreated to these woods in his madness after theBattle of Arfderydd in the year 573. He fled from the alleged wrath of the king of Strathclyde,Rhydderch Hael, after the slaying ofGwenddoleu ap Ceidio. This is written in the two Merlinic poems inMiddle WelshYr Oinau andYr Afallenau in theBlack Book of Carmarthen. The forest is also the retreat of another character namedLailoken from theVita Kentigerni, who also fled into the woods in a fit of madness and who may be the original model for Myrddin Wyllt. William A. Young argues thatBrocéliande, the forest which features inChrétien de Troyes' Arthurian romance,Le Chevalier au lion, may be the forest of Celython.[21]
In the Middle Welsh storyCulhwch and Olwen, the main characterCulhwch is the grandson of a king named Celyddon Wledig, who may or may not be related to the forest in name. Another figure from the same story, Cyledyr Wyllt hints at a close relationship of the forest being a retreat for people who suffered from a special kind of madness orgwyllt (Irishgeilt). In line 994 to 996 of the story, it is briefly explained, "a Chyledyr Wyllt y uab, a llad Nwython a oruc a diot y gallon, a chymhell yssu callon y dat, ac am hynny yd aeth Kyledyr yg gwyllt." ("and his son Kyledyr the Wild. Gwynn killed Nwython and cut out his heart, and forced Kyledyr to eat his father's heart, and that is how Kyledyr went mad"). Though not named directly, the very name Kyledyr Wyllt is close to the two related notions of the forest ofCelyddon being where people suffering madness orgwyllt hide.
InJohn Buchan's 1927 historical novelWitch Wood, Scottish villagers conduct nighttime pagan ceremonies in a surviving fragment of Caledonian Forest (referred to as The Black Forest of Melanudrigill in the book) onBeltane andLammas Tide.[22][23]
Bain (2013) lists 38 ancient pinewood sites in Britain which have been identified as the most genuinely native and natural. All of them occur in the Scottish Highlands. The Caledonian Pinewood Inventory[24] breaks these down into 84 smaller sub-units of the main sites. In March 2019, as part of the implementation of theForestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018, theScottish Government listed 84 sites as Caledonian pinewood in regulations, given below.[25]
57°07′12″N4°42′36″W / 57.1200°N 4.7100°W /57.1200; -4.7100