Teamwork protects endangered apple trees

Forestry and land Scotland (FLS) is helping to conserve wild apples (Malus sylvestris) by planting 500 ‘pure’ apple trees donated by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE).

The wild apple trees are one of the focal species in RBGE’s Scottish Plant Recovery project, which aims to increase the numbers and distribution of ten threatened native plants.

The project, backed by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, collects and propagates the plants to maximise genetic diversity and adaptability, with a view to establishing resilient and self-sustaining populations.

Aline Finger, Conservation Geneticist with RBGE, said;

“These trees will be great for seed production in the future and will help secure this species’ future properly.

“Because of the nature of the project, we need to be extra meticulous with our record work so each seedling will be labelled with its unique identifier, details of its provenance and also its exact planting location.

“Once labelled, the 500 seedlings can be sent on to colleagues at FLS for planting out.”

The wild apple trees have been grown from seed collected from trees in Blair Atholl, Pitcastle, Loch Rannoch, Dun Coillich, Struan, Wood of Cree and Glen Falloch.

Because apples hybridise easily, FLS is planting the donated seedlings at least 500m from other apple trees.

FLS has found appropriate sites at Glen Gyle, Errochty Forest and at Glentrool.

Kenny Hay, FLS Tree Nursery & Seed Resource Manager, said;

“Projects like this are a little heard about but fascinating side of the work that we do. We are more than happy to be able to help conserve such important specimens and our goal, in the next ten years, is to have a healthy supply of this largely ignored but significant tree species which is important for rare woodland pasture, oak-birch woodland and wet woodlands.

“These trees will serve as a valuable seed bank that will allow us to grow and plant wild apples across our forests and increase the genetics of wild apples in Scotland.”

The donated trees were planted out in early June and, because of their importance, will be protected from potential browsing damage.

Notes to Editors

1. 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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