Friday 30 January 2009

Collecting Aspen Roots on the Cononish


Scottish Native Woods will shortly be launching an important national project that will be seeking to rapidly expand the amount of native aspen that will be available from Scottish tree nurseries. The first step of this is collecting roots from aspen clones that can they be propogated vegetatively, and new techniques are being developed that will make this process more efficient, and also produce seeding orchards from which seed can hopefully be gathered in future years. Here is John Parrott, North Highland Area manager with Scottish Native Woods, with our first root section from Highland Perthshire, taken yesterday from beside the river Cononish. The following videos and photos give you some idea of how we go about doing this.
Anyone interested in this interesting project, or with any information about aspen sources, I would be delghted to hear from you. victor.clements@scottishnativewoods.org.uk

Video- Looking for Aspen Roots

Step one is to look for little aspen suckers coming up that can be used to locate where suitable roots are

Video- clearing vegetation on level ground

The vegetation first needs to be pulled away. The operation is much easier on sloping ground than on the level like this.......

Video- Digging away the section of root

This is a closer-up shot of John digging out the length of root........

Video- The end Product

This 1 metre length of root can now be used to propogate this particular clone of aspen in perpetuity , using new nursery techniques. A not-very well- scripted piece of video....!!

Video- Keeping Track of aspen

The roots must be very carefully identified so that they can be traced all the way through to the nursery, where there will be 100-150 in total. They are tagged, GPS co-ordinates taken, trees photographed and then discreetly marked for future reference. John describes the process.....

Looking for suitable suckers


To find aspen roots, you must first find some suckers, which are connected to the parent tree by those roots. Thet are not easy to find where the ground has been heavily grazed, as in this particluar location.

Digging like a little rabbit......!!


Looking down the Cononish


Exposed roots......


These roots are exposed, and will have dried out and be less suitable for vegetative reproduction.

Uncovering an aspen root....


More..........


A very straight aspen tree......


Aspen root material collected.......


John Parrott preparing for another clone collection......


Digging for aspen roots


It is easier getting roots on steep ground like this, rather than on the flat.....

Looking down the Cononish.......


Looking up the Cononish......


Aspen agaisnst the sky......


Looking across to the pinewood at CCC.......


Wednesday 28 January 2009

Bridge over Keltneyburn


Frosty Ground


Monday 26 January 2009

Meall Greigh & Meall Garbh from Aberfeldy


There were a huge number of birds on the plain today, of all shapes and sizes........ the top layer here looks like cloud, but is in fact the higher mountain peaks.

Wade's Bridge today


Zooming out a bit........


Sunday 25 January 2009

Some Poetry........

Its Rabbie Burns' 250th birthday today, and his life and works are rightly all over the media. If you fancy a distraction from this for a while, this poem is by the Rev W F Marshall, the "Bard of Tyrone", who is regarded by country people in Northern Ireland in the same way as Burns is here. This poem will have been written in the early part of the 20th century. W F Marshall at one time lived about a mile down the road from our house at home. There is another poem from last week a bit further down the blog.


MY HOUSE

I’d like a house that was my own
Beside a river in Tyrone;
The river at my garden wall,
- When I’ve said that I’ve said it all.
I’ve said it all and it’s a dream
That has no substance, hope or gleam,
Yet, now I’m old and on the shelf,
I think about it to myself.

A little house, not hard to run,
With one big room to hold the sun;
A good turf fire to keep it warm,
Pictures and books to give it charm,
And easy chairs where old friends may
Stretch out their legs and want to stay.

And want to stay- so there would be
A few spare bedrooms, two or three,
Electric current- lots of plugs,
And water piped- no bedroom jugs!

All this within but for a treat,
Outside I’d like a summer seat;
A sheltered place where I can go
No matter how the wind might blow.
I’d like a garden full of bloom,
But here and there it must have room
For strawberries and apple trees
And useful things like spuds and peas.

I’d like a view, although I fear
It’s hard to be provided here.
I’d like a mountain, lifted high,
And heather clad to please my eye.
That mountain, friend, without a doubt,
I simply will not do without.

And then just to complete my dream,
I’d like two fields along the stream;
A field above, and one below,
With open banks where one could throw
A cast of flies, if not with ease,
At least with skill below the trees.
For (mark me!) trees I must provide,
But they’ll be on the farther side.

Above my house I’d like to see
The water flowing fast and free,
But not too deep for one to wade
Below a stretch the bushes shade,
And there entice a fish to rise
And take it’s pick of three wet flies.

The field below my house would show
A long deep pool with silent flow,
Just flow enough- no more!- to bring
The well cocked fly within the ring.

And then, along my garden wall
I’d like this even best of all:
From bank to bank in hasty travel,
- White water making music sweet,
- White water rippling past my seat,
- White water singing with the lark,
- White water chuckling in the dark,
I want to hear it in my bed,
I want to hear it when I’m dead.

So, in the season to and fro,
Along my fields will anglers go,
For every man who fishes fair
My brother is and welcome there.
I’ll see them pass with eager feet,
And greet them gaily from my seat.

Sure well I known it’s all a dream
That has no substance, hope or gleam.
And, yet although I’m on the shelf,
When I get talking to myself,
I’m in a kingdom of my own
Across the hills in dark Tyrone,
And there I wave my stick with glee
And swear that house belongs to me.

Thursday 22 January 2009

Excitement in Coshieville


Whats this......??

Getting ready to offload......


A brand new road safety sign...!!


Community Council has obviously been at work.......

The Big Trout

This little fishing poem is by the Rev W F Marshall, the "Bard of Tyrone". It is about two little boys going fishing to catch a big trout, and the choices and dilemmas they face when trying to get it. Enjoy.

THE BIG TROUT

I had a comrade
Barelegged Joe,
And we went fishing
Long, long ago.
He came trotting
A yard after me,
For I was a big chap
And Barelegs wee.

Soon as ever I got
Out on the street
I heard him behind me
Quick-running feet;
Barelegs coming
Biting at a bun,
Flying down the Strand Brae
Hop, skip and run.

Then, with the greenheart
Swinging in his hand,
He followed me in trespass
On three men’s land,
Till streams low and hasty
Rose bank-full
And deepened into silence
In Soshy’s Pool.

Down in the turnhole
Lived a big trout,
Sometimes we saw him
Walloping about.
Oh! He was a monster,
More than a pound,
But crafty, crafty,
We soon found.

An Olive and a Claret
And a nice March Brown
And then two Daddies,
We floated down,
A minnow and a maggot,
And after that
A big white fly
And a wee black gnat.

Then we got fine gut
And an old fly hook,
And, prone on the bank,
With hands that shook,
We cocked big worms
Before his nose
And the grub that you get
Where a dockin’ grows.

But he scorned them all
Artfully he
Just made a fool of us,
Joe and me;
Till the tempter came
And we sank very low,
And an evil deed
I wrought with Joe.

Darkly we debated
Our foul plot,
The horsehair line
And the running knot.
“It’s very, very wrong,”
I whispered low,
“There’s nobody about,”
Said barelegged Joe.

We pulled a cow’s tail,
Soon we had a snare
Fastened to the greenheart,
But long cowhair
Dipt in the water
Is soft like wool,
It lay against the rod-top
And wouldn’t open full.

Joe from his pocket
Produced a fiddle –string,
Said I “Man dear Joe,
That’s the very thing!”
Then for the lassoing,
Age-long it seemed,
“Pull, ye, boy, ye, pull now!”
Wee Joe screamed.

Up to the heavens
An old cap sped,
Barelegged Joe
Was standing on his head.
Criminals- no matter,
Let that pass,
Had’nr we a pounder
Kicking on the grass?

The greenheart now
Is a light split-cane,
Far bigger trout
On the grass have lain,
And Joe’s man-big
And has men to rule,
But he minds about the trout
In Soshy’s Pool

God bless rivers
Rattling in the sun,
God bless fishermen
Every one.
And God be with the good days
Long, long ago,
When I went fishing,
With Barelegged Joe.

Aberfeldy Today


Through the golf-course


Wade's Bridge


Through the trees


The Tay Today


New path improvements beside Wade's Bridge


Ash keys hanging from a branch......


This particular tree is very heavily laden with seed........

Closer........


Tuesday 20 January 2009

On Drummond Hill

Monday 19 January 2009

In-bye ground at Kirkton farm


Loch Dochart Today


And again.........


Low mist


The Fillan is very low today........


Above Kirkton Bridge


Below Kirkton Bridge


Young trees in the snow


Stob Binnein Today


Looking west from Auchtertyre Farm


Shelter Belt


Trees across Loch Tay


Closer.......


House by Loch Tay


Sunday 18 January 2009

Scots Pine Trees on the Dochart


The Dochart is on the southern range for native pinewoods, and the nearby Coille Coire Chuilc at Tyndrum is one of the two most southerly and genetically isolated in Scotland. This little group of pine trees is further down the Dochart. They are probably (but not necessarily)planted, but they are a nice little landscape feature and provide some welcome winter colour.

Thursday 15 January 2009

Opening Day of the Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore


The 2009 salmon fishing season was launched at Kenmore at tte start of the river Tay today at 10am......here are a few photos and videos to give you a feel for the occassion.........

Opening Day of the Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- The Crowd at Kenmore Hotel

Opening Day of the Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- Band playing Scotland the Brave

OPening Day of the Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- Angling for Youth Development

In 2008, over £4000 was raised through permit sales on the opening day for Angling for Youth Development, a very pro-active organization who teach children how to fish, and promote environmental education associated with that........here is a bit of chat on the subject........

Opening day of the Tay Samon Season 2009 at Kenmore- The band starting off

Music was provided today by the junior Vale of Atholl Pipe Band........

Opening Day of the Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- Heading down the hill to the river

This is the crowd following the band down the hill to the river.

Opening Day of the Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- Ally's cast

Well known "celebrity" angler Ally Gowans had the honour of completing the first cast today, opening the season on the River Tay.......

Opening Day of Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- Starting the boat

The boat took a few pulls to get it going........

Opening Day of Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- Ducks on the water

There are hundreds of ducks at Kenmore, many more times the number of people here today, they stay out of the way while things are going on........

Opening Day of Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- pipe band playing


Opening Day of Tay Salmon Season 2009 at Kenmore- trying to start the boat