Scottish Forestry seeks nature fans, schools and community groups in the Highlands to help take part in its Scotland-wide survey
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ENVIRONMENTAL community groups, schools and nature enthusiasts in the Highlands are being invited to join in a Scotland-wide survey to find out more about deadwood in Scotland.
Decaying and rotten trees, known as deadwood, are nature’s own recycling machine, slowly releasing nutrients in the soil and helping to grow other plants.
Deadwood is also hugely important to biodiversity as it is provides habitats for a range of animals including insects and birds, plants and fungi.
Scottish Forestry is working with TCV Scotland to promote the survey which will record details of deadwood across the country and its associated wildlife.
Sally York, Scottish Forestry’s Education Advisor said: “Deadwood is tree-mendous as it provides so many benefits for our woodland biodiversity.
“The survey is aimed at community groups, schools or individuals with an interest in the environment but anyone can join in. We hope that by getting involved, more people will increase their knowledge and understanding of the importance of deadwood.”
The survey takes about an hour to complete and can be done in any piece of woodland as long as it is at least 100 square metres in area. Ancient woodland, forestry plantations, trees growing on urban wasteland, wood pasture and scrub are all good examples for the survey to be carried out in.
Kirsty Crawford of TCV Scotland added: “A key part of the survey also records the wildlife found in the piece of woodland so budding nature detectives will find the survey of interest.
“Community woodland groups will find the survey useful as it will help them take important decisions about how they manage their woodland in the future.
“All the materials needed for the survey can be found on our website to download. Please get in touch and we will be very happy to help explain the survey in more detail.”
Contact www.tcv.org.uk/scotland for more information about the surveys and how to take part.
