Nature bounces back at Glenmore following wildfire but concern over iconic Scots pine
Encouraging signs of natural recovery are emerging at Glenmore Forest Park, with native trees resprouting, vegetation returning and wildlife moving back into areas affected by the wildfire.
However, there are growing concerns about the long-term impact on the forest's renowned Scots pine. Older trees, matured over centuries, may be lost from the landscape while younger regeneration is also expected to have suffered heavily, meaning recovery of this defining species is likely to be a much longer-term challenge.
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) staff monitoring the site have recorded birch, rowan and willow regenerating from surviving stems and root systems. Grasses, bracken and blaeberry are also returning, particularly in areas where moisture has remained in the soil or where the fire intensity was lower, with large parts of the affected hillside already turning green again.
Wildlife has also returned. While crews were still dealing with hotspots following the fire, deer and capercaillie were regularly picked up by drones surveying the area. Deer are thought to have been attracted by the fresh growth of grass emerging after the fire.
The burning of the forest's field layer (the mix of plants on the forest floor) is also expected to trigger a new pulse – or wave – of tree regeneration. FLS foresters are hopeful Scots pine and birch seedlings will emerge over the coming years and begin establishing the next generation of woodland. The first seedlings have already been found in the burned areas.
FLS FM and Stewardship Forester Eelco de Jong said:
"Broadleaved recovery is promising with lots of birch, rowan and willow shooting up from the main stems or base of burned trees. Where their root systems are still intact, they will grow back quickly.
"We're also seeing grasses and blaeberry coming back, and large parts of the hill have already turned green again.
"There are significant challenges ahead, particularly for our Scots pine and the areas where the organic layer has been badly affected. The concern is many of the oldest "granny pines" could be lost, removing important seed sources and habitat for species such as capercaillie. Some of these veteran trees were more than 100 or 200 years old and, where losses occur, it could take centuries for trees of a similar stature to return to the landscape.”
In some of the more densely wooded areas, fire also burned through the organic layer of soil, leaving fine ash behind. FLS will need to understand how these areas respond to heavy rainfall and snowmelt, as well as how to manage unstable trees whose roots have been damaged.
FLS is implementing the lessons learned from the Glenmore wildfire across its estate.
FLS are a partner in a newly established Environmental Response Group along with RSPB, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Cairngorms Connect, and CNPA. The regular meetings prioritise monitoring, plan for future work, and share ideas and issues among the affected landowners to ensure swift and appropriate decisions, useful science, safety across the affected area, and value for money.
The work includes using advanced LiDAR imaging to map the forest to build a clearer picture of how the landscape responds in the months and years ahead.
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.
- Media enquiries to media@forestryandland.gov.scot