Tales from the forest
Welcome to the Forestry Commission Scotland blog. Here you'll find inspiration, stories and an insider's glimpse into the world of Scotland's forests.
Short story competition: Mystery of the Achnabreac carvings
- Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Tucked away in the hills of Argyll, just a few miles from Lohgilphead, are the world-famous prehistoric ‘cup and ring’ marks of Achnabreac. These mysterious patterns were carved into rocks throughout Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales and around Europe, in Greece, Italy, and as far north as Scandinavia...
- Read on to find out more about our new short story competition for ages 10 and up! Entries close 9 February.
- Teachers: Download a poster for the competition here.
Let’s play Bird Bingo! Round 1: Birds in your garden
- Thursday, 24 January 2019
Photo: Edi Libedinsky on Unsplash
Just in time for RSPB’s 2019 Big Garden Bird Watch (26-28 January), we’ve pooled our ornithological knowledge and designed a quick reference guide to some of Scotland’s best-loved birds! It’s a fun game anyone can join in with - and in this blog post, we’ll give you a few extra facts about these bird species. Grab some binoculars, get the bird feeders set up, and let’s play… Bird Bingo!
The first card features six birds you should be able to see almost year-round in your back garden, on the village common, or in your local woodlands. If you manage to get all six on your first go, why not head to your nearest forest with a nature hide, and see if you can spot some of our rarer species? We'll post Round 2 tomorrow right here on our blog.
A preview of the Bird Bingo playing cards - click to download Part 1! Part 2 coming tomorrow.
Bird Bingo is back! Round 2: Woodland Birds
- Thursday, 24 January 2019
If you’ve been taking part in RSPB’s 2019 Big Garden Bird Watch (26-28 January), you might already have seen Part 1 of our quick reference guide to some of Scotland’s best-loved birds, commonly found in our gardens. We hope you enjoyed Bird Bingo Round 1 - it's a quick, fun, easy game for the whole family to enjoy!
Here in Part 2, we’ll give you another six bird species to spot, this time in your local woodland or forest… you’ll have to work a bit harder to see all of these specimens. Grab those binoculars, find a forest near you, and let’s play… Bird Bingo Round 2!
A preview of the Bird Bingo playing cards - click to download: Round 1 or Round 2.
Beat the January blues: Events and activities near you
- Friday, 11 January 2019
Walkers enjoying the view at Cardrona
The tree is down, the tinsel back in the box, and the leftover turkey is in the dog. What now? This year there are some cracking events and activities happening near you to take your mind off midwinter. We’ve gathered them all in one place, and paired them up with some of our favourite walks.
Press play: How to preserve leaves and plants
- Friday, 07 December 2018
Image by Marcus Spiske via Unsplash.
As the year draws to a close, you might think outdoor activities are off the table, but don’t be too hasty! Leaf pressing is a brilliant activity for autumn and early winter. Get out and capture the quiet beauty of the trees and plants in nature.
'Tis the season! Christmas Tree Sales Centres open from 29 November
- Tuesday, 27 November 2018
This week marks the start of our annual Christmas Tree sale at forests and visitor centres across Scotland, with the grand opening of Tyrebagger Christmas Tree Sales Centre, on Thursday 29 November (pictured - keen customers, taking their tree to the till!), and all of our other centres open on 1 December or soon after. Check here to find a centre near you.
Our staff are on hand to help you pick the right tree for your festive season - there’s nothing like the look, feel and scent of a real tree to bring on the Christmas spirit! Once you get your tree home, check out our Top 5 tips for looking after your Christmas Tree.
Perfect pack lunches for Autumn explorers
- Wednesday, 10 October 2018
Photo: buzzymelibee via Flickr
With the October half-term approaching it's the perfect time to explore Scotland's forests at their finest. It’s when the landscape really comes to life in russet reds, brilliant oranges and dusty yellows of the season.
Whether you're foraging, stargazing, or visiting your favourite place you need to make sure you've got the energy to make the most of it. Read on to find out what to pack for a wild day out.
Our top 3 spots for forest bathing
- Thursday, 30 August 2018
Photo: Max Pixel
Known in Japan as 'shinrin-yoku' which translates as "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing" – was developed in Japan during the 1980s. It may sound simple, but forest bathing offers a timeless truth - time spent in a forest and amongst nature reduces stress and promotes a feeling of wellbeing. There is even a healthy body of research supporting the idea that forest bathing can help alleviate depression, stress and anxiety, lowering levels of the harmful 'stress chemical' cortisol, as well as having a positive effect on everything from blood pressure to your resting pulse.
Forest bathing was featured in the news this week, so we've written a very quick guide to our three favourite places to immerse yourself in the peaceful sights, sounds and sensations of the woods. If you've never tried it before, and want to find out more, the Shinrin-Yoku website has a ton of resources on offer, including a free 'starter kit' to help focus your mind and centre your body, while our partners Forest Holidays offer guided forest bathing experiences at some of their destinations.
The best thing about forest bathing is that it is free, easy to get into, and anyone can do it – so without further ado, here are our top 3 spots for forest bathing in Scotland...
Trail Blazers: Ruari Watt & Andy Wardman
- Wednesday, 15 August 2018
At Forestry Commission destinations across Scotland, mountain biking is one of the most enduringly popular outdoor activities. Nothing beats the thrill of an adrenaline-charged downhill dash!
Scottish mountain bikers and overseas visitors have a range of different challenges, terrains and organised races to choose from, right in their backyard, from Laggan Wolftraxx near Aviemore and Moray Monster Trails in the North, to the 7stanes Mountain Biking centres dotted throughout the south. Providing a base for the country’s world-renowned MTB culture, the network of trails is constantly maintained, upgraded and developed. Supervising this process are trail grader Ruari Watt, and mountain bike ranger Andy Wardman.
Ruari and Andy and their colleagues post regular updates and videos on their activities over on the 7stanes Facebook page, which offers a fascinating insight into the hard work, resources and volunteer hours that go into this vital trail maintenance. Both advanced trail riders, they offered to give us a few tips and tricks - and a run-down of the races and events coming up at our destinations over the next few months.
