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A tenacious rowan. The bulk of the tree was wind blown many years ago, leaving just a jagged spike of bark. Fortunately the tip was just above grazing sheep and has grown again.

Prolific year for acorns. Our regular visit to the fantastic ancient oaks @DalkeithCP

Irish #rainforest. A weekend on Co Cavan.

Moss in the Peruvian Andes. Not many #trees at 5,000M asl!

Lovely winter walk yesterday Borders Forest Trust Carrifran. These are 20 year old trees. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of establishing new woodland in the treeless uplands!

Always great to hear first #chiffchaff of the year in Friends Of Easter Craiglockhart Hill woods. Later than last year by at least a week according to my observations. Two swans on the pond, but I assume too late to breed this year alas.

Distribution of red and grey squirrels in the UK

A fantastic day at @BenLawersNNR for our Scottish Land & Estates mountain woodland restoration walk & talk with @WoodlandTrust. Plenty of great discussions + opportunity to see mature planted montane willow scrub up close. Thanks to Property Manager Helen Cole National Trust for Scotland for co-hosting!

Bike park Royal Highland Show up to normal standard! Having run the gauntlet of the traffic, come and see me on the Strutt & Parker Rural John Clegg & Co stand.

A couple of hours weeding trees in Friends Of Easter Craiglockhart Hill community woodland. Should have done it weeks ago. Two metre weeds and young trees don’t mix!

Super late evening light in Friends Of Easter Craiglockhart Hill woods tonight. Only lasted for a minute or two.

Half day off doing some path clearance in Pentland Hills Regional Park. Not sure if there is any budget for path, clearance, but rapid gorse growth this year had made this impassable. Before, and after. It’s hard and slow work!

I know lots of fellow #forestry folk use Merlin Bird ID. While in this Sitka/lodgepole crop, it picked up quiet coal tits and goldcrest amongst others, but not a noisy crossbill directly above. Any others had similar experience?

I was lucky with a day off on 12th January. Freezing fog to 500Masl then sunshine. A rowan precariously rooted on Stuc a Chroin lower slopes, avoiding overgrazing from sheep and deer.

First #frogspawn of the year today. A wheel rut on a commercial #forestry restock site in sunny Argyll.

The #pentlands are desperately treeless and I welcome more planting. Successful establishment needs planning and maintenance. This @WoodlandTrust wood near Howden Burn is going backwards due to deer and sheep. Time for action.

A satisfying half hour removing #himalayanbalsom and Japanese knot weed from banks of North Esk at Dalkeith CP

After all the rain, time to head to the #rainforest in the wonderful #ancientwoodland in Roslin Glen. But even here being eroded by invasive rhododendron, laurel, few leaved leak etc

Volunteers have set up for the plant sale to raise funds for Friends Of Easter Craiglockhart Hill. Come along 14.00-16.00 today.

Normal quality cycle provision! Royal Highland Show . Come and visit me on Strutt & Parker Rural John Clegg & Co stand.