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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Register call for the country’s most important trees

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​Woodland Trust says a register of Scotland's noteworthy trees would make them easier to protect and celebrate

The Woodland Trust Scotland is calling for the creation of a register of the nation’s most important trees.

The register would include individual ancient trees, as well as important clusters like the Cadzow Oaks near Hamilton.

It would also include trees that have significant heritage value, such as associations with historic events or people.

Carol Evans, director of the Woodland Trust Scotland, said: “Scotland's most important trees should be recognised as living monuments, so that they enjoy an even longer life so future generations can enjoy and be inspired by them, and the wildlife they support can continue to flourish.

“A national register would classify, celebrate, and protect from harm each of Scotland’s Trees of Special Interest for the rest of their days. It could also help landowners to properly care for these trees as they become even older and grander by allowing them to access more support through grants and specialist advice.

“While many of these trees are listed by local authorities under the system of tree protection orders, this is by no means a comprehensive catalogue of all of the important trees in an area.”

The Trust has teamed up with Country Living magazine to help highlight the need for a register of Trees of Special Interest to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse.

Members of the public can show their support by visiting www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/vitrees

Eight of Scotland's very important trees

Cadzow Oaks, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire

A remnant of a royal hunting forest planted over 700 years ago, the Cadzow Oaks form one of the largest concentrations of ancient trees in Scotland.

Fortingall Yew, Fortingall, Perthshire

Thought to be Scotland’s oldest tree, the Fortingall Yew is around 2-3,000 years old. It is surrounded by a wall that was built to discourage Victorian trophy hunters.

The Capon Tree, Jedburgh, Scottish Borders

One of the last survivors of the ancient Jed Forest, the Capon Oak is around 800 years old. Every July during Jedburgh’s ridings the Callant takes a sprig from the tree to wear in his lapel.

Pollok Beech, Glasgow

The massive octopus-like structure of the Pollok Beech formsa well-known landmark in Glasgow’s Pollok Park.

Birnam Oak, Birnam, Perthshire

While the Birnam Oak is not old enough to have been part of the Forest of Birnam at the time Macbeth, it is thought to be one of the sole survivors of this great wood.

Meikleour Beech Hedge, Meikleour, Perthshire

This beech hedge is noted in the Guinness World Records as the tallest and longest hedge on earth, It is said that the hedge grows towards the heavens because many of the men who planted it were killed at the Battle of Culloden.

The King Tree, Dunipace, Falkirk

The King tree is more than 400 years old and is thought to have been planted in the grounds of Herbertshire Castle and is now a local landmark within a 1950s housing estate.

Inchmahome Veterans, Port of Menteith, Stirling

The Inchmahome veterans are the oldest living residents of a small island in the middle of the Lake of Menteith. These sweet chestnuts are thought to be over 400 years old and may have been standing when Mary Queen of Scots visited the island in 1547.