Paul Lister

The Alladale Wilderness Reserve, Ardgay, Highlands chooses the Scots pine

Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet, a result of our so-called “development”. The Scots pine photographed here has spent more than 400 years growing, clinging to and surviving a steep, scree face on the north face of Glen Alladale. What a life this specimen has had, surviving the logger’s axe; it’s old enough to have seen wolves passing under its branches and marking their territory on its trunk.

Sadly, now too old, this “granny pine” is unable to reproduce, which gave rise to Alladale’s planting programme. We have hopefully inspired other neighbours and landowners to follow suit, in an attempt to help restore what the Romans once called The Great Wood of Caledon. All too often, we humans believe we are apart from nature, but very much to the contrary, we

are part of it.