Bumper acorn crop a boost to FLS efforts in protecting valuable Glentrool Oakwoods
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has been making the most of an exceptional year for acorn production in its bid to restore valuable oakwoods along Loch Trool in Galloway.
Occurring around once every four years, a “mast year” involves certain species of trees – including oaks – producing unusually high numbers of nuts and berries. FLS have taken advantage of this to collect and propagate the acorns.
The saplings grown from the locally sourced acorns will be used as part of converting productive conifer back to native oakwoods along Loch Trool, linking two remnant areas of ancient semi-natural oak woodland.
FLS Stewardship Forester Mo Hastie said:
“The mast year provides us with a plentiful stock of local seeds. This means rather than having to introduce oak saplings from outside the area, which may not be as well adapted to local site conditions, we can use acorns that can preserve the genetic identity of the Glentrool oakwoods.
“Nets are temporarily spread out under a limited number of oak trees to aid collection, leaving the vast majority of trees and acorns as a food source for a variety of local animal species, including birds, badgers and red squirrels.
“In times of abundance, we look to collect as much as possible given the difficulty in storing acorns and significant reductions in viability in the second year of sowing.”
The collected acorns have been transported to a tree nursery to be propagated and will be brought back to the area for planting out.
Protection from browsing is crucial to ensure survival of the oak saplings, so FLS wildlife rangers ensure deer numbers are kept under control, and deer fencing is strategically placed across the ‘new oakwoods’ area.
The Glentrool Oakwoods are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). They are important remnants representing the once extensive broadleaf woodlands that were found across the Galloway Hills. The woods are noted for their lichen and bryophyte communities and support notable insects and breeding bird populations.
It is hoped that the restoration and enhancement of the oakwoods will benefit both biodiversity and support tourism in the area.
Notes to editors
- Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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