Applecross community helps restore native woodland at historic site
Applecross residents and friends started a major tree-planting project this week as part of the community’s efforts to support biodiversity and carbon capture.
Locals came out in force in the spring sunshine to plant the first 400 trees in what will eventually be a 5000-tree plantation.
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The new mixed woodland will cover land in Torgarve including areas which were cleared in the 19th century.
The Torgarve Forest is community-owned via Applecross Community Woodlands which plans to replace the previous Sitka mono-culture with a variety of trees to boost diverse habitats.
Woodland development manager Amy Clarkson said: “It’s been a decade-long aspiration for a community woodland to exist in Applecross.
“This site is so special in many ways…there is archaeological evidence of 2000 years of human habitation, more recently 17th and 18th century township.
‘It is a very varied site including stunning views out to Skye and Raasay, the topography is so varied, and the geology with limestone all offer a huge range of habitats. There will be lots of different tree species here and it will be very biodiverse.
“This is the first tree-planting of the entire project. We will restock with native woodland species.
“We have 420 oak and hazels that we have grown from seed. We have community volunteers and we have two expert tree planters to keep us right.”
She said Gaelic will play a significant part in all the Applecross Community Woodlands work with Gaelic displays and interpretations prominent around the site.
