New initiative to provide ‘much-needed hope’ for endangered native aspen trees in Scotland

An initiative to save one of Scotland’s native tree species has been launched in the Scottish Highlands.

The new Cairngorms Aspen Network (the Network) aims to restore aspen tree habitats by mapping, expanding and connecting fragmented stands of the endangered tree in Cairngorms National Park.

Aspens, which are characterised by shimmering foliage in summer and leaves which turn golden yellow in the autumn, were once common in Scotland but have now largely disappeared as a result of deforestation and overgrazing.

The Network, a partnership between rewilding charity Trees for Life and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, will bring together experts, enthusiasts and land managers to take action to identify and restore the trees.

Doing so, they said, will boost the wildlife and threatened species that depend on them, and help build resilience against climate change.

Niamh Byrne, aspen project officer at Trees for Life, said: “The new aspen network will offer much-needed hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies by developing a restored, better-connected and healthier aspen network.

“By working together, we can improve the future of our aspen woodlands and the life they bring with them.”

The first stage of the project, which is being carried out by Trees for Life, will see the mapping of the location, condition and health of the existing aspens in the national park, alongside key plants and animals that depend on them.

This will be used to help identify key sites and management priorities, including growing and planting plans for creating a thriving new network of aspen.

It will also create a blueprint for an approach to aspen conservation that could be rolled out across Scotland.

Aspens have been especially hard-hit by deforestation and overgrazing because they rarely flower or set seeds in Scotland, meaning that once the species is lost from an area it is unlikely to return on its own.

The deciduous trees, which can grow at elevations of up to 550 metres, tend to only regenerate in the Highlands on rocky slopes or cliffs out of reach of grazing animals.

These fragmented stands, sometimes comprising only a handful of old trees growing from the same root system, are geographically isolated, meaning they are unable to provide a proper habitat for species that depend on them.

Sarah Henshall, head of conservation at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “Aspen is a priority species in Cairngorms National Park and hugely important resource for rare and threatened wildlife.

“Aspen also makes a significant contribution towards healthy and resilient nature networks in the National Park.”

More than 60 insect species are known to feed on aspen foliage in Scotland, while young aspen shoots provide food for caterpillars of the rare dark-bordered beauty moth, and the endangered aspen hoverfly favours aspen deadwood.

Aspens’ high rate of leaf fall and production of deadwood also enrich soils, which creates “optimum” conditions for other plants and trees, and they are said to be highly valued by beavers.

They also grow fast and die young, which the Network said means they can lock carbon away efficiently.

As the project develops, the Network hopes there will also be scope for local volunteers to get involved, including by gaining hands-on rewilding experience and receiving training for carrying out aspen surveys.

Trees for Life has been working to restore aspen to the Highlands since 1991, including by growing and planting thousands of young aspen trees annually.

It has also successfully encouraged aspens to produce seed under controlled conditions at its Dundreggan rewilding estate in Glenmoriston, with the aim of producing new generations of the tree to support woodland restoration projects across the Highlands.

The Cairngorms Aspen Network Project is funded by a grant from the Cairngorms National Park Authority.